Boston Red Sox Wiretap

Strained Relationships Lead To Manny's Request

A source close to Manny Ramirez, authorized to speak for the slugger, presented Ramirez' side of the story on a number of issues, including his strained relationship with manager Terry Francona and a midweek run-in with Curt Schilling

``They don't talk, they haven't spoken since the first day Ramirez came,'' the source said of Francona and Ramirez. ``He's had it for Manny for a while. The friction's been there for a while. Manny's not his kind of player - Francona has one way of thinking and there's one type of player he wants on his team and that's not Manny.'' Said Francona: ``I'm not going to lower myself by responding to that.'' The source said Ramirez was disappointed about what happened when bench coach Brad Mills asked Ramirez before Wednesday's game in St. Petersburg, Fla., if he still needed a day off. Ramirez answered yes, without knowing the Sox needed him to play because Trot Nixon was hurt. If asked to play for that reason, the source said Ramirez would have played. Also, the source said that before that game, which was started by Tampa Bay's Seth McClung, David Ortiz said aloud to Schilling, ``Man, that guy's got some nasty stuff,'' to which Schilling supposedly responded, ``Yeah, that's why Manny took the day off.'' Ramirez then supposedly said to Schilling, ``Screw you, I can hit anyone in baseball, including your ass.''

Via Boston Herald

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Boston Acquires Jose Cruz, Jr.

The Boston Red Sox acquired outfielder Jose Cruz Jr. from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night in exchange for minor league infielder Kenny Perez and minor league right-hander Kyle Bono.

The Red Sox, who were going into Sunday's trade deadline trying to deal outfielder Manny Ramirez also received cash in the deal, the team said.

Cruz is a career .248 hitter and Gold Glove-winner in nine seasons with the Mariners, Blue Jays, Giants, Devil Rays and Diamondbacks. He had back-to-back 30-homer seasons in 2000-01, joining the 30-30 club with 34 homers and 32 steals for Toronto in '01.

He was designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks on Thursday after hitting .213 with 12 home runs and 28 RBI in 64 games.

Via ESPN

Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox

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Manny Pulled From Starting Line-Up

Manny Ramirez has been pulled from tonight's lineup according to NESN.

This shouldn't be taken as much more than a precaution in case the ongoing trade discussions amount to something.

Reports from Boston indicate that inside the Ramirez negotiations, the Sox think they can turn Lastings Milledge into part of another deal.

Jayson Stark is reporting that this deal was for Adam Dunn. Sources in the Cincy front office flatly deny the report, stating "We've been clear that we're not dealing Dunn or any other outfielder."

Via Baseball Prospectus

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Manny And Baez To The Mets In A Three-Way

According to a report by the Boston Globe posted on its Web site late Friday afternoon, the Red Sox and Mets engaged in some serious talks Friday regarding a deal that would send Manny Ramirez to the Big Apple.

The report, which quoted an unnamed source close to the situation, said a third team, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, were also involved in the talks.

A source who is with one of the three teams involved in the talks told the Globe that the principal scenario discussed by the teams would have the Red Sox receiving infielder/outfielder Aubrey Huff from the Devil Rays and outfielder Mike Cameron from the Mets.

The Mets would receive Ramirez from the Red Sox and closer Danys Baez from the Devil Rays.

Tampa Bay would receive a number of prospects, possibly from both clubs.

If the Red Sox have to deal a prospect, the report said, it could be Double-A pitcher Anibal Sanchez.

''I'm not sure this thing is really going to happen, but it's definitely being discussed,'' the source told the Globe.

Ramirez still has three years and $64 million left on his contract. According to the report, it is unknown if the Mets would assume the entire sum or whether Boston would assume some portion of that amount.

One source stressed to the Globe that the Red Sox have additional motivation to make this deal as Ramirez will have the right after this season to veto a trade under baseball's ''10-5'' rule, which applies to players with 10 years experience, five consecutively with the same club.

Earlier Friday, the New York Post reported that the Mets and Red Sox had talked Thursday about a trade for Ramirez, last year's World Series MVP.

Via Boston Globe

Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, Tampa Bay Rays

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BoSox President: Trading Manny Will Be Tough

Manny Ramirez's trade request will be difficult to honor because of his contract, Boston Red Sox president Larry Lucchino said Thursday.

Lucchino also said he didn't know the left fielder's motivation for refusing manager Terry Francona's request to play Wednesday afternoon's game at Tampa Bay after another outfielder, Trot Nixon, was sidelined with a strained muscle in his side. Before the injury, Francona told Ramirez he could have the day off.

"It's hard to know if the events of the last couple of days are the result of sort of psychological and physical needs for a sustained period of rest or it's some calculation or some move to encourage us to trade him," Lucchino told WEEI radio on his regularly scheduled segment.

Lucchino and Ramirez's agent, Scott Parker, did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment. Team owner John Henry and general manager Theo Epstein did not respond to e-mails, and the Red Sox clubhouse was locked on their day off Thursday.

Ramirez is batting .275 with 28 homers and a major league-leading 92 RBI for the Red Sox, who lead the AL East by 1? games over the New York Yankees. He is due $57 million over the remaining three years of his contract.

On Tuesday, Sports Illustrated reported on its Web site that Ramirez, for at least the third time in four seasons, had asked to be traded. The report said he told club officials he was unhappy in Boston, especially with an off-field lack of privacy.

Via ESPN

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