Disgruntled Boston slugger Manny Ramirez was so eager to be traded to the Angels this winter that he called former Red Sox teammate Orlando Cabrera, now the Angel shortstop, for a scouting report not on the coaching staff or clubhouse culture but on the Southern California media. "He asked me in particular about you guys," said Cabrera, who helped the Red Sox win the 2004 World Series. "A lot of [the problems] he has in Boston are about a lack of privacy. He's bothered by the media all the time. "I told him [Anaheim] is a normal city. When you try to compare the media in any city to the media in Boston, nothing is the same. It's crazy over there. The only thing close to that is New York." The Angels and Red Sox talked numerous times over the winter but never appeared close to a deal. Boston owner John Henry called Angel owner Arte Moreno directly in an effort to spark the last round of negotiations in late January, but the Angels balked at the Red Sox's asking price. Boston is believed to have requested reliever Scot Shields, utility player Chone Figgins, top prospects Brandon Wood and Howie Kendrick, and for the Angels to assume virtually all of the $57 million left on Ramirez's contract.