Post by Fish Troll on Feb 21, 2007 21:51:09 GMT -5
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Red Sox confirmed on Wednesday that Manny Ramirez is dealing with a family issue and the star slugger has been granted clearance from the club to report to Spring Training on March 1.
The rest of the position players underwent physicals on Wednesday, so Ramirez will be one week behind schedule.
"Manny is going to be here, ready to go, March 1," said Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein. "He's got a family situation. I think the important thing, from our perspective to this point, is that when he does show up on March 1 that he's ready to go, accountable to his teammates and accountable to the organization."
Red Sox manager Terry Francona spoke to Ramirez via phone on Tuesday night and, like Epstein, expressed no issue with the left fielder's timetable.
Reliever Julian Tavarez, Ramirez's close friend, said earlier this week that the slugger would not be on hand until March 1. However, the Red Sox weren't comfortable making an announcement until they heard it directly from Ramirez.
Epstein said he was satisfied with the communication between Ramirez's agent and the club.
This will mark the second year in a row that Ramirez will report to camp on March 1. A year ago, the left fielder told the club he wanted to complete his conditioning program at his South Florida home before coming to camp.
Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
The rest of the position players underwent physicals on Wednesday, so Ramirez will be one week behind schedule.
"Manny is going to be here, ready to go, March 1," said Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein. "He's got a family situation. I think the important thing, from our perspective to this point, is that when he does show up on March 1 that he's ready to go, accountable to his teammates and accountable to the organization."
Red Sox manager Terry Francona spoke to Ramirez via phone on Tuesday night and, like Epstein, expressed no issue with the left fielder's timetable.
Reliever Julian Tavarez, Ramirez's close friend, said earlier this week that the slugger would not be on hand until March 1. However, the Red Sox weren't comfortable making an announcement until they heard it directly from Ramirez.
Epstein said he was satisfied with the communication between Ramirez's agent and the club.
This will mark the second year in a row that Ramirez will report to camp on March 1. A year ago, the left fielder told the club he wanted to complete his conditioning program at his South Florida home before coming to camp.
Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
