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Talks about Ramirez trade

Baseball managers, general managers, scouts, agents and reporters are meeting in Orlando, Florida to discuss trades and deals. On top of the day`s agenda is the future of Boston Red Sox slugger Manny Ram?rez. Manny has in the past expressed his desire to leave Boston. His $19 million a year paycheck has been one reason it has not happened yet, as well as Boston`s management insistence that they would not settle for lesser talent in exchange. Theo Epstein, the Red Sox? general manager, repeated this demand this week, saying "we?re not going to trade an elite position player without getting fair value.?

But now, with only two years left on his $160 million contract, which will pay him $38 million, Manny does not seem so expensive. Especially after the Red Sox paid $51.1 million for the right to talk to Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka.

The Red Sox have had conversations with the Dodgers, the Angels, San Francisco, Seattle and San Diego about Ram?rez. If these talks fail, then the Red Sox can only hope that Manny is not dissatisfied staying in Boston for a while longer. The Mets, an obvious partner for big-time trade talks, were not contacted by the Red Sox. Moises Alou, who has signed a one-year, $8.5 million deal with the Mets will be their starting left fielder next season.