Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci says Manny Ramirez is seeking to leave Boston, citing a desire for more off-the-field privacy.

09:36 AM EDT on Wednesday, July 27, 2005

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- According to a report by Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci, Manny Ramirez has asked the Red Sox to trade him, citing in particular a desire to have more off-the-field privacy.

AP photo

Jason Varitek, left, and Edgar Renteria congratulate Manny Ramirez on his two-run homer in the first inning last night.

The report said that this is the third time in four years Ramirez has made such a request.

Boston, you may remember, put Ramirez on waivers after the 2003 season but found no takers for the outfielder, who was owed about $100 million on his contract at the time. He still has three years, worth roughly $60 million, remaining on his contract, making it problematic to move him even if the Sox want to do so.

And while he has looked a bit distracted lately -- going into the Green Monster to go to the bathroom and returning just as Wade Miller was about to deliver a pitch in a game last week, for instance -- the eccentric Ramirez has been a productive hitter.

Heading into last night's game, Ramirez was leading the majors in RBI (90), which is what most interested manager Terry Francona, who disavowed any knowledge of Ramirez's reported request.

"I'm at a loss at that one," said Francona. "I didn't see it, didn't know it, didn't hear it. You (media) guys have fun with it. It will have legs for a few days."

Francona said he didn't see any indications that Ramirez was unhappy.

"To me, he's the same, happy enough to drive in 90 runs. He's been fine," said Francona.

If Ramirez's desire was creating a tornado of opinion back home, he was, typically, unaffected by it at the plate.

On the first pitch he saw last night, Ramirez crushed a two-run homer to left off Mark Hendrickson.

It was Ramirez's 28th homer of the season -- and sixth in his last 11 games -- boosting him into first in the league in homers, at least temporarily, depending on what other players did last night, and extending his major league-leading RBI total to 92.

Ramirez laced a single to right in his second at-bat. In his final four at-bats he struck out three times and hit a weak grounder to second base.