Manny Ramirez was scratched from Boston's lineup just before Saturday's game, and New York Mets outfielder Mike Cameron said he was upset by talk that he could be included in a trade for the Red Sox's All-Star slugger.
Ramirez was removed just before Boston's game against Minnesota. The Red Sox said they had no trade to announce and an official involved in the talks said Saturday evening that the sides were still far apart in the much-discussed, three-team trade involving the Red Sox, Mets and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Devil Rays general manager Chuck LaMar said he expected talks could continue right up until Sunday afternoon's deadline for non-waiver deals.
"We have had discussions with both teams, not only in a combined deal, but separate deals with each one of those teams," he said. "It's hard enough to make a real good trade [with two teams]. When you start adding a third team, there are a lot of logistics."
After saying he didn't want to talk about the deal, Cameron volunteered that he didn't sleep much Friday night because he'd gotten "calls all day and night long" -- and that he didn't like being the subject of rumors.
"I can't even take it," he said. "I thought I can handle it. I can't."
Cameron has been traded twice before, from the Chicago White Sox to Cincinnati in 1998 and from the Reds to Seattle in 2000 for Ken Griffey Jr. However, both deals were made in the offseason.
Cameron has been linked to many other trades that never happened., which is why Mets manager Willie Randolph said he wouldn't even discuss the matter with his right fielder. Cameron was in the starting lineup, batting third, Saturday night against Houston.
"I trust Cammy," Randolph said. "He's been through this before. Didn't we go through this in spring training? I think he's mature enough to understand the business and the way it is."