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Manny talks, but what did he say?

Manny Ramirez talked about his future last week with a writer for MLB.com. That much is clear. The rest is well, Manny talking like Manny.

When asked if he thinks he stay with the Red Sox after this season., he said: "I don't know. We're going to see. They want me to stay, I stay; if not, I want to move on. My meaning is I want to become a free agent after '08 and move on."

Ramirez was signed to an eight-year, $168 million contract prior to the 2001 season by former general manager Dan Duquette. That contract expires after this season, but the Red Sox hold options for the 2009 and '10 seasons.

If the Red Sox don't pick up those options, the 2004 World Series MVP can become a free agent after the '08 season.

"It don't matter. If I be here, I be here," Ramirez said. "If not, I'm fine. If it's not here, it's someplace else."

Ramirez enters this season 10 homers shy of 500 for his career, to go along with 1,604 RBIs, a .313 batting average and a lifetime slugging percentage of .593.

Posted by Peter Phipps  at 7:38 AM | Permalink