Manny Ramirez
As you’ll see, there are several players on this list who have already been on previous lists. Like Pedro Martinez before and a few others to come, Manny Ramirez fits the bill. He was on the most important players and best free agent signings list and because he played the entirety of his Red Sox career in the 2000s, he was an easy choice to make this list as well.
Signed in the winter of 2000, Manny spent from 2001 to 2008 with the Red Sox and was one of the most feared and dominant hitters of the decade. The numbers he put up during that span were truly eye-popping, as he compiled a .312 average to go alongside 274 home runs and 868 RBI. He won the World Series MVP in 2004 by hitting .412 with one home run and four RBI in the series.
He was equally as good when the Red Sox came back and won the 2007 ALCS against his former team the Cleveland Indians, hitting .409 with two home runs, ten RBI, and nine walks. His numbers were down in the 2007 World Series (.250 BA, 0 HR, 2 RBI) but overall, the Red Sox wouldn’t have won either of those World Series without Manny.