Major League Baseball
MLB notebook: Red Sox place OF Ramirez on waivers

By Seattle Times news services

	CHARLES KRUPA / AP Manny Ramirez is owed $101.5 million on his current contract.
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BOSTON — Manny Ramirez makes so much money that even the biggest spenders in baseball don't want him.

The Boston Red Sox placed him on irrevocable waivers Wednesday, and teams have until 1 p.m. EST today to claim the slugging left fielder.

If he's claimed, Boston would get nothing in return but would unload the contract, the second-richest in baseball history. If he isn't claimed, he would remain with the Red Sox.

The New York Yankees' payroll of $164 million — not including postseason and award bonuses — is the highest in the major leagues, but they have no interest in claiming Ramirez, a top baseball executive familiar with the team's plans said yesterday on the condition of anonymity.

Ramirez has five years and $101.5 million remaining on a $160 million, eight-year contract, and would get an extra $1 million if he switches teams.

Ramirez is scheduled to make $20.5 million next season.

The Red Sox refused to confirm that Ramirez was placed on waivers. Clubs often place many of their players on waivers to gauge other teams' interest and to lay the groundwork for trades.

Thomas to stay with Chicago

CHICAGO — Frank Thomas is staying with the Chicago White Sox.

Thomas said he will exercise a $6 million contract option for next season rather than test the free-agent market for a second straight year.

"After weighing our options, we felt the best decision for Frank was to return to the White Sox," said Arn Tellem, Thomas' agent. "I know Frank would like nothing better than to help the White Sox win a World Series title."

Notes

• Lee Mazzilli interviewed to be manager of the Baltimore Orioles, and Grady Little is up next.

Mazzilli, the New York Yankees' first-base coach, became the seventh person to interview for the post that opened when the Orioles fired Mike Hargrove on Sept. 29.

Little, dismissed as manager of the Red Sox this week, is to meet with Orioles vice presidents Jim Beattie and Mike Flanagan today.

• The Tampa Bay Devil Rays won't exercise the $2.5 million contract option on first baseman Travis Lee of Olympia but will still attempt to sign him for the 2004 season.

Lee, who batted .275 with 19 home runs and 70 runs batted in in 145 games for the Devil Rays last season, became eligible to file for free agency.

• The Red Sox said they are raising the average ticket price 4.8 percent to $44.37, the smallest of nine consecutive increases.

• Catcher Matt Walbeck is retiring and agreed to become manager of the Detroit Tigers' Class A West Michigan farm team.

• The Florida Marlins would become the Miami Marlins under terms of an agreement that would give the team $73 million of Miami-Dade County money to help build a new stadium, the club said on its Web site.

The Marlins outlined a plan Tuesday that includes the county money to help build a $325 million baseball-only park.

The agreement also calls for the team to contribute $137 million toward the proposed retractable-roof stadium. It doesn't account for the remaining $115 million, nor the cost of the land in Miami.

• Reliever Paul Quantrill, who led major-league pitchers with 89 appearances last season, exercised his right to void the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers and filed for free agency.

Copyright © 2003 The Seattle Times Company