More Sticker Shock: Ramirez, $160 Million

If shortstop Alex Rodriguez rocked baseball’s economy, outfielder Manny Ramirez was a considerable aftershock.

A baseball executive, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed late Monday night that the Boston Red Sox and Ramirez’s agent, Jeff Moorad, agreed to an eight-year, $160-million contract that is expected to be finalized today.

The Ramirez deal, which includes about $30 million in deferred payments, would be the second-largest contract in sports history, albeit dwarfed by Rodriguez’s blockbuster earlier in the day.

Hours before he agreed to the deal, Moorad said that all things being equal, his client would sign with Cleveland, and Ramirez had expressed a desire to remain with the club.

Apparently, an extra $24 million made things unequal and erased some desire.

Ramirez turned down a $136-million, eight-year offer from the Indians, according to a source with knowledge of that team’s offer.

“We’ve done what we can do,” said Indian General Manager John Hart, who would not confirm his team’s offer. “Maybe even beyond what we should do. . . . we have a lot to be proud of because we feel our owner really stepped up.”

Last month, Hart pulled a seven-year, $119-million deal from the table and said they would no longer negotiate, believing that Moorad was simply looking for the highest contract he could get.

Hart changed his mind recently though, because he thought it was important to retain a home-grown player who is also one of the most popular on the roster.

Manager Charlie Manuel and teammates Travis Fryman and Jim Thome also called Ramirez within the last day to make a last-ditch effort to persuade him to stay.

Red Sox General Manager Dan Duquette and Moorad could not immediately be reached for comment.

Two years ago, Boston also tried to sign a run-producing outfielder. But all the Red Sox wound up doing was raising the price for the New York Yankees to re-sign Bernie Williams, who stayed with the Yankees for an $87.5-million, seven-year contract.

Ramirez, 28, hit .351 last season with 38 home runs and 122 runs batted in in 439 at-bats.

With the signing of Ramirez, the Red Sox are expected to trade pitcher Tomokazu Ohka and outfielder Trot Nixon to Montreal for starting pitcher Dustin Hermanson, a deal that could be completed as soon as today.

Late Monday, Hart returned to Cleveland while Moorad remained at the winter meetings.

And Ramirez?

He had flights booked to Boston and Cleveland, according to a source.

There will be an empty seat on that flight to Cleveland.

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Associated Press contributed to this report.

CONTRACT

Eight years, $160 million with Boston

AVERAGE SEASON

Avg.: .313

HR: 33

RBIs: 114