Marlins owner Loria denies deal is in place to acquire Manny

On Wednesday, he spoke by telephone with ESPNdeportes.com.

"The Red Sox don't deserve a player like me," Ramirez said. "During my years here I've seen how they have mistreated other great players when they didn't want them to try to turn the fans against them."

In Boston, several players took a wait-and-see approach to a possible trade after a 9-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels, the Red Sox fifth defeat in six games.

"I think around here there's a lot more smoke than fire," Mike Lowell said. "If something happens, it happens."

"Regardless of what happens," Alex Cora said, "the guy has to play for his future. If he's traded, he'll play hard for that team and try to win a World Series. If not, he'll play hard for us and try to win a World Series."

There's a chance the Red Sox will keep Ramirez. And Samson said the Marlins may stand pat with confidence they have "as good a chance to win the division as the Mets and Phillies."

"Trying to find a match is just hard," Samson said. "I can't say teams are exactly lining up to deal with the Marlins at the moment."

Despite the Marlins' unexpected success this season, they're last in the majors in attendance, and the franchise has long been reluctant to take on big salaries.

"Because we don't fill the stadium every night, we have to keep these payrolls moderate," Samson said. "We cannot trade away the farm for a two-month push, but we are looking. ... When you're in the middle of the race, you're in the middle of things."

Speculation about a possible Ramirez deal was greeted with amusement in the clubhouse before Florida's game Wednesday.

"You going to Boston?" teammate Dan Uggla shouted at Hermida.

"I don't know. I guess so," Hermida said with slight smile.

After going 2-for-4 with a triple, Hermida said he didn't think during the game about the prospect of being traded.

"You put that aside when you step between the white lines," Hermida said. "You go out there and try to beat the Mets, and let other people take care of that stuff. I've still got a Marlins jersey on. It didn't affect me whatsoever."

Left fielder Josh Willingham has also been mentioned as a candidate to go to Boston.

"I hadn't heard anything about myself until today," Willingham said after going 2-for-3. "It's strange because that was the last thing on my mind - a trade rumor.

"I'm happy here. Until something happens, I'll continue to be happy."

Manager Fredi Gonzalez laughed off questions about a possible deal and where Ramirez would play for Florida.

"I think we'll just straight DH him," Gonzalez said.