Ramirez Gets $160M Pact from Bosox

D A L L A S, Dec. 12 -- Manny Ramirez went for the money.

The power-hitting outfielder reached a preliminary agreementMonday night on a $160 million, eight-year contract with the BostonRed Sox, according to a high-ranking baseball official familiarwith the negotiations.

Ramirez turned down a $136 million, eight-year offer from theCleveland Indians, according to a source with knowledge of thatteam’s offer, also speaking on the condition of anonymity. Hisagent, Jeff Moorad, said earlier in the evening that all thingsbeing equal, his client would sign with Cleveland.

News of the agreement with the Red Sox was first reported by TheBoston Globe.

$30M Deferred

The deal, which the official said probably would be announcedTuesday, contains about $30 million in deferred payments.

Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette and Moorad could notimmediately be reached for comment.

“We’ve done what we can do,” said Indians general manager JohnHart, who would not confirm his team’s offer. “Maybe even beyondwhat we should do. We hope Manny takes this offer. But if hedoesn’t, we have a lot to be proud of because we feel our ownerreally stepped up.”

Please Stay?

The Indians sent Dr. Louis Keppler to Florida to give Ramirez aphysical, according to the source. Manager Charlie Manuel andteammates Travis Fryman and Jim Thome also called Ramirez withinthe last day to try to convince him to stay, the source said.

Ramirez, 28, hit .351 last season with 38 homers and 122 RBIs in439 at-bats.

Two years ago, Boston also tried to sign a run-producingoutfielder. But all the Red Sox wound up doing was raising theprice for the New York Yankees to re-sign Bernie Williams, whostayed home for an $87.5 million, seven-year contract.