Five years after he got a huge contract from the Sox when the baseball winter meetings convened in Texas, Manny Ramirez may be the focal point of this year's meeting there, too.

01:00 AM EST on Monday, December 5, 2005

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

DALLAS -- Five years ago, when baseball's winter meetings were last held here, the Red Sox returned home with free-agent slugger Manny Ramirez, upon whom they bestowed a stunning $160 million over eight seasons.

This week, when the Red Sox return to Boston, it's quite likely that they will have divested themsleves of Ramirez and his contract, which still has three guaranteed years remaining.

Ramirez has asked the Red Sox to deal him elsewhere, and while that request has been made numerous times before, this time, it comes with a good deal more urgency. According to sources close to the player, Ramirez and his wife have determined it would be best for them both to head elsewhere.

As such, the Red Sox have been arranging meetings with a handful of teams to discuss Ramirez. The New York Mets, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Texas Rangers are known to have great interest and there are at least two other organizations that the Sox believe to be serious bidders.

The Mets, who are introducing their own TV network in New York next spring, may be the most intent on landing Ramirez. General manager Oman Minaya has spoken publicly about his desire to land Ramirez and add him to the quartet of big-name players he's landed since the end of the 2004 season: Pedro Martinez, Carlos Beltran, Billy Wagner and Carlos Delgado.

The Mets' offer, however, may not match their desire. They've already parted with two prospects -- Yusmiero Petit and Mike Jacobs -- who would have been coveted by the Red Sox. Any deal for Ramirez would have

to include outfield prospect Lastings Milledge, pitcher Aaron Heilman and others. It may take the Mets to involve a third team to put together a package to satisfy the Sox.

Texas would be willing to move second baseman Alfonso Soriano for Ramirez, which is ironic, given that Soriano was obtained for Alex Rodriguez two years ago after the Sox' talks to send Ramirez to Texas for Rodriguez fell through. It's known that the Sox also like first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who could be included in the deal.

What's not known is whether owner Tom Hicks would take all of Ramirez' $57 million in the deal. To date, the Sox have told interested teams that they will not subsidize Ramirez's remaining salary, but that could be a negotiating stategy that could shift throughout the week.

The Angels have told the Sox that they won't move promising pitcher Ervin Santana for Ramirez, but there are other bargaining chips that could be included, including first baseman Casey Kotchman and infielder Kendry Morales.

If the Angels and Red Sox can't work out a deal directly, they could turn to the Arizona Diamondbacks, who could move third baseman Troy Glaus to Boston -- where he could be shifted to first -- and move Ramirez on to the Angels.

Ramirez isn't the only Red Sox veteran who could be dealt. Pitcher David Wells, like Ramirez unhappy in Boston, has requested a deal. Wells would prefer to return to his hometown of San Diego, from whence he came last winter.

The Padres' initial offer of Sean Burroughs and former Boston outfielder Dave Roberts didn't do much for the Sox, but the teams have recently talked about an expanded deal that includes Sox catcher Doug Mirabelli. The Padres are about to lose catcher Ramon Hernandez to free agency.

In return, the Red Sox are seeking one of two relievers -- Scott Linebrink or Akinori Otsuka -- and second baseman Mark Loretta.

As one of the few teams with an excess of starting pitching, the Sox might also move Matt Clement, who had a disappointing second half.

Among the teams known to be talking to the Sox about Clement are the Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers. Bronson Arroyo, too, has value, especially since he's relatively affordable in a pitching-thin market.

If the Sox could land another first baseman in return for Ramirez or Clement, they could then swap Kevin Youkilis. He has already been displaced at third by newcomer Mike Lowell and has drawn heavy interest from the Minnesota Twins, who attempted to deal for him at the trading deadline last Thursday.

On the free-agent side, the Sox are focusing on retaining Johnny Damon, who, with agent Scott Boras, met with Red Sox officials over the weekend in Boston.

Damon said last night that he expected his situation to be resolved in the next 10 days. There were unconfirmed reports last night that the Yankees had made Damon a three-year, $39-million offer.

Veteran second basemen Mark Grudzielanek and Tony Graffanino may also be targets as the Sox are apparently not convinced that Dustin Pedroia is ready to assume the position on an everyday basis.