Manny Ramirez has confirmed he would welcome a trade if the Boston Red Sox can find a willing recipient.

Speaking for just over 90 seconds to a group of reporters in the Red Sox clubhouse prior to Sunday's scheduled game with the New York Yankees, Ramirez said he was prepared to leave Boston.

Earlier in the day the slugger told ESPN Deportes that he would not stand in the way of a deal before clarifying those remarks with Boston and New York reporters.

"What I said was, 'If the Red Sox think they can find a trade that's going to make their team better and both sides are going to be happy, I'm going to agree.' But they cannot find a trade. It's something simple. It's no big deal," Ramirez said.

Finding a fitting trade partner could be difficult for the Red Sox if Ramirez - who holds "10-5" no-trade rights - demands that a team pick up one or both of the remaining options on his contract at US dollars 20 million per season.

Ramirez added: "At the end of the season, all they (the Red Sox) got to do is call my agent and say, 'Hey, we're not going to pick up Manny's option for '09, he's going to become a free agent.' That's it. I go my way and you guys go your way, something simple.

"I don't want to talk to them about contracts right now. So what? Enough is enough. I'm tired of them, they're tired of me, and after 2008, just send me a letter, whatever. You don't even have to call my agent. 'Thank you for everything, you're going to become a free agent. We're not going to pick up your option in '09'.

In the end, Ramirez concluded that it is not likely that the Red Sox would be the ones to pick up his two remaining options.

"That's not going to happen," he said. "They're not stupid. Boston is not stupid. They can say whatever they want but when it comes to make a deal, they're not going to pull the trigger because they know what they got here."

Asked if his contract is bothering him or the team, Ramirez said the question was better suited for ownership.

"I'm happy but enough is enough," Ramirez said. "You have to ask (general manager) Theo (Epstein) and (principal owner) John Henry, they know."

Ownership and manager Terry Francona met with Ramirez this week after the superstar complained of nagging soreness in his right knee, forcing him to miss two games, including Friday's opener against the Yankees.

Ramirez was ordered to take MRI scans on both knees, which revealed no serious injury.