War of Words Not Over Between Manny Ramirez and Red Sox

It's not over.

Manny Ramirez may have been moved by the slightest hair off his dreadlocks on Thursday, but that didn't stop the war of words between Red Sox management and the estranged slugger.

The battle within the two sides started Sunday, when Ramirez confided to ESPN Deportes that he would approve a trade if Boston found a favorable deal. If not, Ramirez wouldn't mind becoming a free agent.

"If the Red Sox are a better team without Manny Ramirez, they should trade me; I will not object," Ramirez said. "I don't have any preferences. I could choose a team that offers me the best conditions or one in the chase for the postseason. I don't care where I play, I can even play in Iraq if need be. My job is to play baseball."

Ramirez continued in an MLB.com report: "I'm tired of them, they're tired of me," Ramirez said. "After 2008, just send me a letter or whatever, you don't even have to call my agent or whatever, 'Thank you for everything, you're going to become a free agent, we're not going to pick up your option in '09."

Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein and Owner John Henry responded within the same MLB.com report that they are trying to improve the club for an October run, leaving Ramirez' status momentarily in air.

Ramirez struck again days later in an interview with ESPNdeportes.com.   

"The Red Sox don't deserve a player like me. During my years here I've seen how they have mistreated other great players when they didn't want them to try to turn the fans against them.

"The Red Sox did the same with guys like Nomar Garciaparra and Pedro Martinez, and now they do the same with me. Their goal is to paint me as the bad guy. I love Boston fans, but the Red Sox don't deserve me. I'm not talking about money. Mental peace has no price and I don't have peace here."

Ramirez tried to free his mind in a game against the Los Angeles Angels, when he held up a sign requesting a trade to the Green Bay Packers for quarterback Brett Favre (see photo).

Three teams were involved in the Thursday deal. Boston sent Ramirez to the Dodgers as well as right-hander Craig Hansen and outfielder Brandon Moss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Dodgers, in turn, sent third-baseman Andy LaRoche and right-hander Bryan Morris to the Pirates. Pittsburgh then sent former All Star outfielder Jason Bay to Boston.

When Ramirez was finally traded Thursday to the Los Angeles Dodgers, it appeared as though all was right with the baseball world. Both sides appeared to be satisfied with the outcome of the deal. Bay did not disappoint in his first start in Boston, going 1-3 with a triple and scoring the deciding run of a 2-1 win against the Oakland Athletics. Ramirez was active in his Dodgers debut, singling to left and legging out an infield single within his first three at-bats.  

Even before Friday night's game, Ramirez felt refreshed with his new club. "I just think blue right now," Ramirez said. This is a new chapter in my life. L.A. is a great city. When someone asks about Boston, I put my brain on pause. I feel like I took a 5,000 pounds off my back to be here."

Then the Red Sox dropped a media bombshell. According to ESPN's BottomLine, Epstein met with Red Sox veterans Wednesday night, who were "worried that outfielder Manny Ramirez could not be counted on and needed to go."

Red Sox management further alienated Ramirez from the organization, in this move distancing him from his most trusted teammates. While the best counter for Ramirez is quiet success with the Los Angeles Dodgers, his flamboyant personality-from those dreadlocks to his new jersey number of 99-will more than likely spin this debacle once again, starting another round of this sparring match of egos.

How will he strike back?

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