Is He Getting on the Peace Train?

(Jim Davis / Boston Globe Staff Photo)

While the Sox Are in a Sweeping Free-Fall,
Manny Just Keeps Shooting His Way Out of Town

The Phone Call with ESPNdesportes Before Tonight's Debacle:
Manny Says Sox Don't Deserve Him, Painting Him as the Bad Guy

"The Red Sox don't deserve a player like me. During my years here, I've seen how they [the Red Sox] have mistreated other great players when they didn't want them to try to turn the fans against them." -- 7.30.08, Manny Ramirez to ESPNdeportes.com's Enrique Rojas on the phone from Fenway Park

Pedro, Nomar Get Dragged into Spin

(Jim Davis / Boston Globe Staff)

Manny Dusts Off Two Broken-Down Icons to Take Whack at Sox

"The Red Sox did the same with guys like Nomar Garciaparra and Pedro Martinez, and now they do the same with me. Their goal is to paint me as the bad guy. I love Boston fans, but the Red Sox don't deserve me. I'm not talking about money. Mental peace has no price, and I don't have peace here." -- 7.30.08, Manny Ramirez to ESPNdeportes.com's Enrique Rojas on the phone from Fenway Park

The Latest from the Rumor Mill as the Deadline Approaches:
The Buzz: All the Reports on the Sox-Marlins-Pirates Possible Three-Way Deal
Gammons: Deal Not Done; Pirates Not Happy With Return
Gordo: 3-Way with Pittsburgh, Marlins for Real... But Not Done
Mazz: Sox Still Debating How Much of a Distraction Manny Is
Gallery: A Look at Theo's In-Season Deals Since Becoming Sox GM
Fla. Sun Sentinel: Marlins Make Strong Bid for Manny
Palm Beach Post: Tentative Agreement Reached on Manny to Marlins
Rosenthal: Source Not Confident Deal Will Get Done
Silverman: Chances of Ramirez Deal Very Unlikely

"At this point I think you have to trade him. I really do. I said a week ago that theyhad to pick up the option and keep him, but I think he's gone too far. I think he has just acted and spoken his way out of this clubhouse... almost no coming back from those comments, that's basically saying 'I can't play here.'" -- 7.30.08, Tom Caron, NESN postgame

"I think you know like they say today, you broke the camel's back right there. You know they have a situation where now I think their hands are tied a little bit, but even though you have probably some of the owners saying we want this guy, we're trying to make him happy, but he's telling you, I'm not happy, I wanna go, so what 'cha gonna do? ... I just want to know what kind of peace he's talking about." -- 7.30.08, Jim Rice, NESN postgame

Manny Being Funny ... Not

(BDD / NESN screen image)

ESPN Quote Quiz: Manny vs. Favre

"Oh yeah, Marlins. Tax free. Stay at home." -- Manny before the game, MLB.com, Ian Browne

Bay Day! Bay Day!

(AP)

Malcontent Manny and His Mental Peace Need to Be Moved Out by 4 p.m., Grab Bay and Grabow While You Can

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Bay Might Have Played His Final Game for Pirates

"A source in New York with direct knowledge of the transaction last night described it as "a tentative deal," but that might be too strong: For one, the prospects have not been fully determined, are the Pirates are thought to be dissatisfied with some portions of their pool. ... Bay, 29, is enjoying a revival season, batting .283 with 22 home runs and 64 RBIs, all dramatically ahead of his paces from last summer ... Grabow, 29, has a 3.19 ERA in 48 appearances. He was shut down for nine days earlier this month because of what the team described as a tired arm, but he returned and appeared healthy. He was a 1997 draft pick who came up through the system and reached the majors in 2003." -- 7.31.08, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Beaver County Times: Lowrie, Hunter Jones Could Be Part of Deal with Pirates

"The three clubs have talked about various version of a deal including some that would send Boston rookie shortstop Jed Lowrie to the Pirates with veteran Pittsburgh shortstop Jack Wilson going to the Red Sox. The Pirates also have interest in Red Sox left-handed pitcher prospect Hunter Jones, who is at Class AAA Pawtucket.

Part of the deal could also have Pirates left-handed reliever John Grabow going to Florida and Marlins outfield prospect Mike Stanton, who has 26 home runs as an 18-year-old at low Class A Greensboro, ending up in the Pittsburgh farm system." -- 7.30.08, Beaver County Times

Boras Being Boras

(ESPN's First Take)

Behind the Scenes, He's Pulling the Strings

Not-So-Straight-Answers: Boras Makes Lucchino Sound Like Mark Cuban

"... I think when you have great players and you have a team that's a great team, those decisions become all the more difficult mainly because the fact that you have two interests at hand, one being a player who has rights and a club who has a strong interest in being very successful in the postseason and during the season so, the fact of finding a fit and putting things together is more difficult in that situation." -- 7.30.08, Scott Boras may have said something if you read between the lies

Just 9 Months Ago, Manny Was at Peace in Boston