Theo Epstein and the Boston brain trust had no choice at that point. They couldn’t afford to hope that if the trade deadline came and went and Manny found himself still dressing in the catacombs of Fenway he’d realize he had no choice but to play as if he cared. Manny’s pouts can be over in a heartbeat or last for months. The Red Sox had already decided they weren’t going to pick up his option for next year, and they couldn’t count on him for the stretch run. They gave him what he wanted and were even able to ship him to the other league and the far side of the country, where they could count on never seeing him again — or at least not until October. And if it comes to that, the Red Sox will take their chances.

You have to congratulate Epstein on this one. It just goes to show what a tight deadline and a motivated seller can accomplish. And few teams will ever be as motivated to move a player as Boston was this week.

It’s a damned shame, and it shouldn’t have come to this. Manny and Boston were a perfect match, the free-spirited outfielder in the free-thinking city. But he didn’t see it that way, choosing to cast himself as the oppressed laborer being mistreated by onerous owners who has done nothing — nothing! — for eight years beyond paying him $20 million a year and ignoring his many sins against management, team, game and fans. What ingrates.

Manny, meanwhile, is certain to be happy and productive in Los Angeles. But let the Dodgers be warned: It won’t last. Sooner or later, he’ll imagine a slight and he’ll be right back to being Manny. It won’t be this year, but the day will come.

When it does, Boston will finally be able to laugh at his buffoonery and thank the day they shipped his ungrateful butt out of town.

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