Three Red Sox deals that had to be made and one that must

There is a linkage between Garciaparra and one of the best right-handed hitters I ever saw in Manny Ramirez. Ramirez was the beneficiary of an enormous $160 million contract that the Henry ownership inherited and wished to dissolve.

The Red Sox had eyes for another and were infatuated with Alex Rodriguez who later became infamous in Red Sox history. This created a problem as in a monetary problem and Ramirez was offered up to any with the stipulation that you inherit one of the top-tier hitters and contracts. Ramirez stayed tethered to Boston.

Eventually, the Rodriguez deal became a historical casualty and Garciaparra’s tenure in Boston came to an abrupt end. But within the convoluted machinations of this soap opera drama was David Ortiz. Ortiz – a roster afterthought – soon teamed with the petulant Ramirez to create a one-two punch that would do Rocky Marciano proud.

Manny being Manny is a veritable baseball circus of the laughable to the unforgiving. The highlight reel contains assaults on team personal, lax play, conflicts with teammates, and the eventual contract issue as time was expiring on Manny’s eight-year deal.

The Red Sox and Manny parted company at the trading deadline in 2008 and reflecting via that noted tool of hindsight this was a deal that had to happen and did. Eventually, Ramirez’s dabbling in banned substances surfaced that would tarnish his accomplishments. Ramirez was gone and replacement part Jason Bay took over in left field as a far quieter replacement.