actually the story is from the sporting news.
Yes, there's a chance that the Red Sox will trade outfielder Manny Ramirez before Sunday's 4 p.m. ET non-waiver trade deadline, and the Mets are not the only possibility.
The Red Sox also are talking to the Marlins, Rangers and Blue Jays about Ramirez, industry sources say, though a three-way trade involving the Mets and Devil Rays remains the most tantalizing possibility.
That deal, which would send Ramirez to the Mets along with Devil Rays closer Danys Baez, is nowhere close to complete, sources tell The Sporting News.
ADVERTISEMENT
"It's going to take a little time," an executive from one of the teams says. "But it's pretty legitimate."
An official from a second team adds, "It's got a ways to go. We have two days left. There's still a lot of talking to do."
A blockbuster of this magnitude faces numerous obstacles, not the least of which is Ramirez's contract, which will pay him $57 million from 2006 to '08.
Thus, the Red Sox are exploring other possibilities.
The Marlins, a team that relishes blockbuster trades, previously have discussed sending right-hander A.J. Burnett to the Sox in a deal that also might include third baseman Mike Lowell. They could revive that combination in a package for Ramirez.
The Rangers nearly acquired Ramirez for Alex Rodriguez after the 2003 season. Their general manager, John Hart, is Ramirez's former G.M. with the Indians, and Ramirez would thrive in the hitter-friendly Ballpark in Arlington.
A deal with the Blue Jays would appear far-fetched -- it is doubtful the Red Sox would trade Ramirez within their own division -- but Jays ownership has pledged to increase payroll by $210 million over the 2005, '06 and '07 seasons.
Meanwhile, the rough outline of a three-way deal between the Sox, Mets and Devil Rays already appears to be in place:
The Mets would receive Ramirez and Baez.
The Red Sox would receive Mets outfielder Mike Cameron and Devil Rays outfielder Aubrey Huff.
The Devil Rays would receive an elite package of prospects from both clubs. Among the possibilities: Mets outfielder Lastings Milledge and righthander Yusmeiro Petit and Red Sox catcher Kelly Shoppach and lefthander Jon Lester or righthander Anibal Sanchez.
If such a deal was completed, the Mets would become a legitimate threat to win the N.L. East, and the Devil Rays' rebuilding program would accelerate rapidly.
However, the Red Sox's chances of repeating as world champions would decrease, in part because they would not receive enough of an immediate return for Ramirez, one of the game's premier hitters.
The deal also would not address the Red Sox's need for pitching, while costing them two top prospects from a farm system that is finally starting to gain strength.
Finally, major league executives are skeptical that Devil Rays general manager Chuck LaMar would agree to a trade with so many moving parts in such a limited trade frame.
LaMar is widely considered to be the most difficult G.M. to negotiate with, setting unrealistic values on his players.
"Unless Tampa Bay gets Milledge and (top Red Sox prospect) Hanley Ramirez and Kelly Shoppach and two other pitchers, I doubt it could happen," says one G.M. who has recent discussions with LaMar.
A year ago at this time, Red Sox G.M. Theo Epstein completed a stunning four-team trade that sent shortstop Nomar Garciaparra to the Cubs and brought first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz and shortstop Orlando Cabrera to the Red Sox.
That deal helped the Sox win their first World Series since 1918. And to think, a Ramirez trade might be considered an even bigger coup.
Senior writer Ken Rosenthal covers baseball for Sporting News. E-mail him at
kenrosenthal@sportingnews.com.