“A trade involving Manny Ramirez did not appear imminent Wednesday night, according to the Globe’s Gordon Edes. At that time, the Sox had not yet spoken to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are thought to be one of the most likely targets for Ramirez given their young talent. More from Edes: “It would appear to be a given that Ramírez would demand, as a condition of any trade, that a team pick up at least one or both of his option years — at $20 million per — or negotiate a contract extension.”

Epstein Mum on Sox Deals - Gordon Edes, Boston Globe

“The Sox, while aggressively exploring trade options, still would prefer to have an unhappy Ramírez return for another season in Boston than make a lopsided deal they would regret.

It would appear to be a given that Ramírez would demand, as a condition of any trade, that a team pick up at least one or both of his option years — at $20 million per — or negotiate a contract extension. Among other reasons he might be conducive to a trade to the Dodgers: He enjoyed a good relationship with manager Grady Little and was close to hitting coach Eddie Murray when they were teammates in Cleveland.”

Complicated Matter: Many Sides to Sox Trading Manny - Michael Silverman, Boston Herald

“The  Red Sox are busy, busy, busy these days, weighing blockbuster trades (Manny Ramirez), negotiating across the Pacific Ocean (Daisuke Matsuzaka), crossing the T’s and dotting the I’s on a free agent mega-deal (J.D. Drew), all while trying to complete the rest of their roster’s many needs (shortstop, second base, closer, backup catcher and another reliever or two). “

“Manny Ramirez’ career with the Red Sox may be nearing an end, but at least one pitcher is hoping that the enigmatic slugger ends up going nowhere.

Jonathan Papelbon said he supports the signing of free-agent outfielder J.D. Drew, but he also wants the team to hold onto Ramirez rather than trade him away.

“Nothing against J.D. Drew, I’d love to have him, but there’s no doubt about it, we need to keep Manny,” Papelbon said. “I want them both. Of course, all pitchers feel this way, but I guess you can’t always get what you want.”

For Red Sox Faithful, He’s Manny From Heaven - Gayle Fee and Laura Raposa, Inside Track Boston Herald

“Fed-up Red Sox fan Jeff Guinee and his KeepManny.com crew refuse to let fielding fool Manny Ramirez walk outta town without a fight. So they’ve revived their Web site and petition in support of No. 24.

Jeff was prompted to rev up the KeepManny machine this week - less than a year after gathering more than 65,000 signatures in support of the dreadlocked Sox slacker - after reading the sports pages.

The software salesman said an anti-Manny column last week by Boring Broadsheet scribe “Dan Shaugh(nasty)” was the final straw.”

Padres’ Interest Piqued? - The Buzz, Boston Globe

“The Padres have sweetened their offer for Manny Ramirez, a source with direct knowledge of the talks told the Globe’s Gordon Edes. San Diego is apparently offering a package of Major League players for Ramirez, and that package would likely include starting pitcher Jake Peavy or reliever Scott Linebrink. The Sox reportedly are also interested in left-handed hitting first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, according to Edes. There could, however, be potential problems with dealing with the Padres: “Sandy Alderson is not going to spend $20 million a year on Manny Ramírez,” one National League executive told Edes, referring to the Padres’ CEO who built a tight-fisted reputation when he was building champions in Oakland.”

“The Manny Ramírez trade chatter predictably spiked upward yesterday, with the winter meetings just days away.

While the Red Sox continued to close in on a deal for free agent outfielder J.D. Drew, and have made an offer to shortstop Julio Lugo, whom they project forming a speedy on-base combination at the top of the order with Coco Crisp, the speculation about possible destinations for Ramírez intensified.”

Drew Deal May Lead Manny Out the Door - Michael Silverman, Boston Herald

“The Red Sox appear to be the leading candidate to sign free agent outfielder J.D. Drew and, according to one baseball executive, the deal could be a big one.

A five-year deal worth an average annual salary of $15 million is one figure being heard in baseball offices, with only a physical holding up the announcement.

One scenario in play yesterday was that another unnamed team was planning to swoop in for a last-minute bid later this week. That, or a physical for Drew in Boston, could be holding up the deal.”

Not Manny Outs Left - Tony Massarotti, Boston Herald

“If you believe actions are louder than words, then here is what the Los Angeles Angels said last week: They would rather have Gary Matthews in center field (with ample pitching) than Manny Ramirez in left (without), even if it means Matthews earning an average of $10 million over the next five seasons.”

Ramirez might be dealt by Saturday - Buster Olney, EPSN

“The Red Sox are aggressively shopping outfielder Manny Ramirez now, according to major league sources, at a time when the slugger’s trade value has peaked, and there is a sense among some executives that their trade talks are gaining momentum.

“I wouldn’t be shocked if the Red Sox traded him by Saturday,” says one big league official.”

“Rats. I was pretty sure Manny Ramírez was going to win the MVP award. Too bad he was topped by winner Justin Morneau, runner-up Derek Jeter, David Ortiz, and an ensemble cast of American League worthies.

Here in Red Sox Nation, there is some lugubrious pleasure in the knowledge that Jeter finished second to a Minnesota Twin. For some Sox fans, it’s titillating to see that one voter placed Jeter sixth on his/her ballot. That’s reminiscent of a New York writer ignoring Pedro Martínez on the 1999 ballot because said scribe allegedly didn’t believe in voting for a pitcher for MVP. Of course, it turned out that the New York writer had voted for other pitchers in previous years.”

“The list of possible trading partners for the Red Sox in a Manny Ramírez deal shrank by another team yesterday, even as an exploding market makes the remaining $38 million on Ramírez’s contract appear a relative bargain.

The New York Mets, who long have explored trading for Ramírez, appeared to take themselves off the market for his services as they closed a one-year, $8.5 million deal with 40-year-old Moises Alou to replace Cliff Floyd in left field. The Mets are expected to spend their big cash on another starting pitcher, with lefthander Barry Zito their expected primary target.”

Show Manny the Door - Time’s Right for the Red Sox - Gerry Callahan, Boston Herald

“We may never know why he wants out of a city that worships him, warts and all, but if you’re the Red Sox, you don’t waste time asking questions. You pull the trigger before he changes his mind.

The Sox catch a break, for a change. They get lucky with Manny Ramirez. He wants to play somewhere else next season, and apparently he’s not all that picky about where. He has given the Red Sox a list of teams to which he would accept a trade, and according to TV analyst Jerry Remy that list is at least 10 teams long.
So it is time to end this annual charade, and let the bidding begin. The Sox have dangled Manny on the trade market for years, but never found a deal that made sense for the team. Now Theo Epstein and Co. can look back on those trades-not-made and laugh: Can you believe we actually thought about paying part of Manny’s salary?”

“With Soriano now off the market, where will his would-be suitors turn for a big bat? A serious market may now open for Ramirez’s services, or so it would seem (the $38 million owed to him over the next two years doesn’t look so bad in this market), with the Angels likely at the top of the list after Los Angeles lost out on the Soriano sweepstakes after reportedly offering a five of six-year deal worth around $14 million annually.”

“The chances of the Red Sox making another offseason blockbuster move - trading Manny Ramirez in particular - remain slim, but they did increase at the general managers meetings, which concluded yesterday. GMs are realizing there is a lot of cash burning holes in many teams’ pockets, so the option of trading for an elite slugging talent like Ramirez is more appealing than throwing money at questionable, less productive players.”

 Manny’s Market Value - -Buster Olney, EPSN.com

“Manny Ramirez’s contract has been the 160-ton weight hanging around the necks of the Red Sox for six years, and Boston executives have repeatedly tried to do his bidding and unload the slugger, despite the fact that he drives in 130 runs a year. The Red Sox have tried to waive him, trade him, swap him, sell him, everything.”

 Ramirez Still Talk of Town - -Nick Cafardo, Boston.com

“Nobody, including Theo Epstein, can predict what deals will emerge or which free agents will be donning Boston uniforms, though there’s growing belief J.D. Drew will be in right field and Julio Lugo will be at shortstop. But teams feeling they have no shot at free agents Alfonso Soriano or Carlos Lee have made inquiries about Ramírez.”