LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- As he's come to do so many times, Manny Ramirez dominated the Red Sox' time and energy yesterday on the first day of baseball's annual winter meetings, but the Sox are intent on making sure that doesn't spill past tomorrow.

Declaring an unofficial, self-imposed deadline, Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said the Sox wouldn't actively pursue trade talks for Ramirez past midnight tomorrow.

"If we get past Wednesday," vowed Epstein, "we're not going to take up any more of our time. We can't let it get in the way of trying to do (other) things. By Wednesday midnight, we'll have flushed out the major trade market and we're moving on.At some point, you need to solidify your team and build around it."

Epstein emphasized that the Sox still would listen to interested bidders, but pointed out the Sox would cease soliciting deals for the slugger. Clearly, if a deal is going to be made, it needs to be completed today or tomorrow.

The GM also said the club wasn't prepared to move Ramirez, who has again requested a deal, unless the Sox receive a satisfactory package of players in return.

"There's definitely an active trade market for elite position players," he said, speaking in vague terms. "(But) we're not trading an elite position player unless we get fair value. We've proved that in the past."

Epstein hinted that Ramirez's contract (with two years remaining at approximately $38 million) isn't proving to be a deterrent.

"In this market," he said, "it hasn't been an issue. And that's a change (from past years)."

Three teams remain in the running for Ramirez: the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and, nominally, the Seattle Mariners.

The San Diego Padres, who expressed an interest recently, seemed to eliminate themselves yesterday.

"My sense in talking to Theo is we probably didn't have a match they were looking for," said Padres general manager Kevin Towers. "There's probably a better trade partner than ourselves."

Seattle reluctantly agreed to discuss top outfield prospect Adam Jones yesterday, but doesn't appear to have the pitching component to make a deal.

The Red Sox see the Dodgers as a logical destination for Ramirez, but to date have asked for too much in return, in the opinion of the Dodgers. The Sox are adamant about including Jonathan Broxton, but also want two other top prospects from a pool that includes outfielder Matt Kemp, first baseman James Loney and third baseman Andy LaRoche.

It's unlikely that the Dodgers would part with more than one prospect beyond Broxton.

"There's been talk," said one person familiar with the negotiations. "But at this point, it's not much more than that."

Epstein was scheduled to meet with Angels general manager Bill Stoneman late last night.

According to an industry source, the Sox had made it clear before the meeting that any talks must start with either Francisco Rodriguez or Scot Shields. But the Angels were said to be trying to work out a deal that didn't include pitching, and were preprared to discuss a package involving either former Sox shortstop Orlando Cabrera or infielder Maicer Izturis and outfielder Juan Rivera.

Rivera, however, holds little appeal to the Sox, and it's hard to imagine them moving such a big star and not getting any pitching at all in return.

Late yesterday afternoon, a rumor floated through the hotel that the Sox, Dodgers and Houston Astros were working on a complicated deal that would have sent Ramirez to L.A., Brad Penny to Houston and Loney and Morgan Ensberg to the Sox. The deal was categorically dismissed by at least two of the teams involved.

The San Francisco Giants continue to pursue Ramirez, but aren't thought to have the talent to put together an attractive package.

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