There is a long checklist of issues to be addressed during the upcoming Red Sox season, but one that has been in hibernation since the winter meetings in December is Manny Ramírez's frame of mind.
The people who know -- or think they know -- just aren't saying, or they're hedging.
Sox manager Terry Francona, who leaves for Fort Myers today, said at a press gathering yesterday that he hadn't talked to Ramírez since December, though some clubhouse employees have.
"I think he's OK," said Francona. "I don't think there are any problems."
There's not much information flowing on this topic, though the Red Sox entertained trade offers for him the past two seasons. Talks took up at least three days at the winter meetings this past December, with the hottest suitors being the Giants. But they didn't want to part with their young pitching and didn't have enough otherwise to give up.
Ramírez spoke to the media only once last season -- the day he reported to spring training -- and there are hints that he might do the same this season. One of his agents, Gene Mato, said, "I'm not going to talk for Manny. He comes back next week. I'm not commenting until he gets back."
Mato said he has spoken to Ramírez several times since last season ended. Asked if he knew what Ramírez's frame of mind was, he said, "Yes, I do."
What is it?
Mato wouldn't go there.
Ramírez's other agent, Greg Genske, won't even take phone calls on the topic.
A source close to Ramírez said yesterday that the left fielder was hurt by suggestions in the media that Ramírez quit on his team last year when he sat out with patellar tendinitis.
What is known is that general manager Theo Epstein shut down all trade talk on Ramírez after the Giants situation fell through. Mets general manager Omar Minaya, who has known Ramírez since he was in high school, seemed irked that the Red Sox never approached him about a deal.
Though Ramírez came to spring training in a good mood last year after potential deals with the Orioles, Mets, and Angels fell through, Francona will likely have to contend with Manny being Manny again. But the manager weighed in on a few other hot topics at his final Hot Stove press conference.
For one thing, Francona didn't rule out Jonathan Papelbon returning to the closer role.
"To be perfectly honest, I suppose the possibility exists, but I think it's a very long shot," Francona said. "I think a lot of things have to happen for that to eventually happen, and I don't see that happening. The first thing is that he'd have to be medically cleared to do it, and that's the reason he's in the starting rotation. It's not because we don't think he can close.
