Manny Ramirez Trade Rumors, Year Number Eight

July 31st. It might as well become a holiday in the city of Boston, along with Evacuation Day, Boston's way of citing the Revolutionary War as an excuse to skip work and celebrate St. Patrick's Day, and Patriots' Day, Massachusetts' excuse to skip work and watch the Boston Marathon. It is Manny Ramirez "will he be traded" day.

This year's holiday, though, might have meaning. This one might stick.

Ramirez is in the last year of the eight year contract given to him by the Red Sox, albeit with two club option years at an additional $20,000,000 per season. The Red Sox, however, may choose to not exercise these options, effectively making Ramirez a free agent at the end of this season.

This, compounded with the statements he made to ESPNdeportes.com, leads many a Red Sox fan into brainstorm mode.

We have the baseball team that can win now, but we more than likely do not if we trade away Ramirez in a purely "future" deal. Therefore, it is hard to say what kind of trade would even make sense for the Red Sox here.

Ramirez to Detroit for Magglio Ordonez? Not really sure how this would really improve either club, especially on Detroit's end. It would likely upset fan bases in both cities as well. The Red Sox could possibly push this deal by citing Ramirez's near .900 career playoff OPS, but this would be more than likely a dead end deal that would only happen on MLB2K8.

Ramirez to Cincinnati for Adam Dunn? Once again, makes no sense. Cinci would want building blocks with many years left in their contracts if they give up Dunn, and Ramirez sure is not that. Besides, Dunn's contract is up after the season, too, and that would leave no guarantee that Boston keeps him.

But then, of course, the Red Sox can just do what they always do to celebrate this holiday. Keep him.

I was thinking about possible trades during down times today leading right up to the Yankees - Red Sox night cap on ESPN. Then of course, Manny had to go do what Manny does: 3 for 5, 2 doubles, 2 RBI.

Simply put, how can a team in a World Series hunt rationalize trading a future Hall of Fame hitter with a 2008 OPS of .931 at the trade deadline? If the Red Sox were to even think of pulling the trigger on a deal like this, it'd have to be a heavily Red Sox-favored deal of getting a guy with relatively the same current production that is locked in for another 2+ years, which could be a hard find for these Red Sox.

At the end of the holiday, the Red Sox should, and will probably, do what they always do to celebrate the festivities. Hang onto Manny, let Manny be Manny, and ride the Ortiz-Ramirez lineup combo into the postseason.

I am just happy I am not Theo Epstein on this holiday.