Manny a Marlin?

While I don't think the Red Sox are seriously considering trading Manny Ramirez anywhere, the fact they've come out and said they would think about it has been more than enough for teams to come calling. There have been rumors that the Red Sox are having conversation with the Phillies, Dodgers, and most surprising of all, the Florida Marlins.

Considering that the Marlins spent the last off season shipping Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis north to Detroit instead of paying them, it's somewhat surprising that they would want to add Manny's contract to their payroll, but according to Ken Rosenthal the idea isn't that crazy.

Manny to the Marlins? The idea, first reported by SI.com, is not as wacky as it sounds.

The chances of the Red Sox trading Manny Ramirez remain slim, but executives from at least one rival club in touch with Boston are convinced that the Sox are intent on purging their left fielder.

The Red Sox and Marlins are talking, major-league sources confirmed, and here's how a deal could work:

The Red Sox would pay nearly all of the approximately $7 million remaining on Ramirez's salary.

The Marlins would include Josh Willingham or Jeremy Hermida, either of whom could replace Ramirez in left field, plus a prospect.

Ramirez would waive his no-trade clause in exchange for the right to become a free agent at the end of the season.

He also would agree to decline salary arbitration when offered it by the Marlins in December, enabling the team to preserve its right to draft-pick compensation while avoiding getting crushed by Ramirez on a one-year deal.

Of course, there's one thing Mr. Rosenthal left out of his list of things that would have to happen to make this trade possible. He forgot to say that Theo Epstein would have to lose his freaking mind first.

I know that the Red Sox are tired of dealing with Manny, and that Manny is tired of dealing with the Red Sox, but the idea of trading him is idiotic at best. Jeremy Hermida and Josh Willingham are nice talents that could develop into something special (and they'd be under Boston's control for a few more years) but they are in no way as valuable as Manny Ramirez.

If the Red Sox get to the World Series again this season, who do they want to see standing in the batter's box with the series on the line? Manny Ramirez or Josh Willingham? Seems pretty obvious to me.