Manny Ramirez on Waivers

Red Sox reportedly place Ramirez on irrevocable waivers

BOSTON -- The Red Sox placed All-Star slugger Manny Ramirez on irrevocable waivers, the New York Times and the Boston Herald reported Thursday.

The move means any major league team can have Ramirez -- if it is willing to pay his salary. The outfielder has five years and $104 million remaining on a $160 million, eight-year contract. He is scheduled to make $20.5 million next season.

When contacted by the Associated Press, Red Sox spokesman Kevin Shea said: "The waiver procedure is a confidential procedure, and we're prohibited from commenting on it. We're not permitted to say whether a player is on or is not on waivers."

A phone message left by the AP for Ramirez's agent, Jeff Moorad, was not immediately returned.

Ramirez hit .325 this year, one point behind teammate Bill Mueller for the AL batting title, and had 37 homers and 104 RBI. The Red Sox won the wild card and advanced to AL Championship Series before losing to the New York Yankees in seven games.

The left fielder was placed on waivers just two days after Boston announced it would not bring back manager Grady Little, who led the team to 188 regular-season wins the past two years.

Ramirez is one of baseball's best hitters, but he often struggles in the outfield and on the bases.

He was benched by Little late this season after he missed a crucial series against the Yankees with a sore throat and fever, yet managed to pull himself out of bed to reminisce with New York infielder Enrique Wilson about their days in Cleveland.

Then Ramirez didn't show up for an appointment with the team doctor, and when he joined the club the next day he sat on the bench but said he was "too weak" to pinch-hit.

And in a game at Yankee Stadium in September, the absent-minded Ramirez tossed the ball into the stands after making a nice catch, thinking there were three outs when there were only two.

If no team claims Ramirez by the 2 p.m. ET deadline Friday, he will remain with the Red Sox.

Ramirez, 30, was signed as a free agent by former Boston general manager Dan Duquette in December 2000. Ramirez is scheduled to earn $20 million in 2005, $19 million in 2006, $18 million in 2007 and $20 million in 2008.

He also is due $4 million a year in deferred, no-interest salary from 2004-10, and he's still owed $10 million of his $16 million signing bonus.

Ramirez's club options for 2009 and 2010 are each worth $20 million.