BOSTON -- As Manny Ramirez prepares to report to Red Sox camp in Fort
Myers, Fla., to get ready for the upcoming season, he has his sights
set even further in the future.

Speaking at a charity event at Franciscan Children's Hospital in
Boston on Saturday, the slugger said he would like to stay in a Red
Sox uniform past this season. But if not, he's preparing himself for
the possibility of playing elsewhere after 2008.

"I don't know," when asked if he thinks he stay with the Red Sox after
this season. "We're going to see. They want me to stay, I stay; if
not, I want to move on. My meaning is I want to become a free agent
after '08 and move on."

Ramirez was signed to an eight-year, $168 million contract prior to
the 2001 season by former general manager Dan Duquette. That contract
expires after this season, but the Red Sox hold options for the 2009
and '10 seasons.

If the Red Sox don't pick up those options, the 2004 World Series MVP
can become a free agent after the '08 season.

"It don't matter. If I be here, I be here," Ramirez said. "If not, I'm
fine. If it's not here, it's someplace else."

Ramirez enters this season 10 homers shy of 500 for his career, to go
along with 1,604 RBIs, a .313 batting average and a lifetime slugging
percentage of .593.

He has begun to show a different side of his personality this
offseason, most recently allowing photographers and reporters to
detail his workout regimen at Athletes Performance Institute in Arizona.

Teammates Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia, who have worked out with
him, have said that Ramirez appears as strong and in shape as ever
this offseason. And the slugger confirmed last week that he plans to
arrive on time this spring and report with other teammates to get
ready for the season.

"Yeah, I'm ready," said Ramirez, with an eye beyond this year. "It's
going to be fun. I'm looking forward to '09."

Source: Mike Petraglia / Special to MLB.com