"Zero,'' Francona said when asked if he had any concerns about Ramirez continuing to produce at a high level. "He's one of the best hitters I've ever seen and I would think that will continue as long as he wants it to.''

So now Ramirez is effectively entering a free agent year, and history is on his side. In 2000, just before he hit the market and joined the Red Sox, Ramirez played in only 118 games with the Cleveland Indians. He nonetheless batted .351 with 38 home runs and 122 RBI — better than one RBI per game — while establishing career bests in on-base percentage (.457) and slugging percentage (.697). Former Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette subsequently signed Ramirez to a contract that the new Sox administration (headed by owner John Henry, president Larry Lucchino and general manager Theo Epstein) regarded as a pair of cement shoes.

Now here we are, in the spring of 2008, and Ramirez has knocked in more runs over the last seven years than any player but Rodriguez or Albert Pujols. (Ramirez actually has more RBI per game played.) One year after the Red Sox placed Ramirez on waivers (in 2003) and then tried to trade him (for Rodriguez, as it was), he was named Most Valuable Player of the 2004 World Series. Last fall, he backboned the Boston offense in another run to the world title, only supporting the argument that the entire Red Sox offense is built around him.

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"People have talked about, 'Are you going to trade Manny? Are you going to trade Manny?'" Red Sox owner John Henry said following Boston's sweep of the Angels in last year's American League Division Series. "Manny's bat — you saw the difference in the lineup when he's out there. They can't pitch around David (Ortiz). They have to pitch to David and Manny.''

Now Ramirez is on the verge of free agency.

It certainly seems as if he has to earn his money.

In 2008, both he and the Red Sox are literally banking on it.

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