Ramirez would be more attractive in a trade if he did not require a contact extension or the exercising of his two $20 million option years. In fact, all he might want to waive his no-trade clause is the assurance that his new team would make him a free agent at the end of the season. If that’s the case, his new team would get an extremely motivated player without needing to worry about paying him $20 million per year after this season. That team also would get two premium draft picks once Ramirez departed as a free agent, helping replenish the talent it lost in the trade.
The Mets and Phillies have contacted the Red Sox about a possible deal, major-league sources say, but the Mets deny serious interest in Ramirez and the Phillies are even more of a longshot.
The bottom line is this: If the Red Sox could not trade Ramirez when he was at his peak, it will be difficult for them to deal him in the next four days, even though the dynamics have changed.
The Mets? Who exactly would they give the Red Sox, Moises Alou? The Mets can’t trade any more trade top prospects, can’t mess with their improved vibe under new manager Jerry Manuel.
The Phillies? Yes, Ramirez goes way back with manager Charlie Manuel, but perhaps no general manager emphasizes makeup more than Pat Gillick, who plans to retire at the end of the season.
Besides, the Phillies probably would need to include Pat Burrell to make the deal work financially, and Burrell, too, has a no-trade clause. He also is having a better year than Ramirez.
The Sox are a financial behemoth, and they’ll gain flexibility if they lose Ramirez’s $20 million salary. They could pick up his option and try to send him to the Rockies, Rangers or some other team in a hitter-friendly park — a move that would entail risk, for it would still require Ramirez’s approval. Or, they can decline the option and trade for the Rockies’ Matt Holliday or Pirates’ Jason Bay to be their right-handed hitting slugger in left field.
Those are just some of the possibilities, and Epstein no doubt would explore others. Francona handles the Sox’s diverse personalities with aplomb, but imagine how much easier his life will be once Manny is gone. The team might suffer some, but if Holliday or Bay enters the equation, maybe not much.
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