N&R says: Hoppers’ Stanton could be gone in a Manny-trade…..

from Rob Daniels today at www.news-record.com:

The Boston Red Sox would apparently like Manny to be Manny somewhere other than Beantown, and the trade talks involving Manuel Aristides Ramirez, the Hall of Fame-bound slugger with a currently grumpy disposition, might impact the Grasshoppers.

According to several national reporters, notably ESPN’s Jayson Stark, the Sox are fronting a potentially widespread deal that would send Ramirez to the Florida Marlins for a package to include Mike Stanton, the Hoppers’ 18-year-old outfield prospect who has homered 17 times since June 1. The network reported at 2 p.m. that the trade is unlikely but still alive until the 4 p.m. non-waiver deadline. Stanton’s potential destination – the Pirates, Red Sox or maybe somebody else – isn’t clear because there are so many teams affiliated with the discussions. Ramirez would wind up in Miami, but the players the Marlins give up to get him could be “flipped” immediately to other clubs.

Stanton has developed as a major prospect this season. After a relatively high strikeout rate in April and May, Stanton has become more selective and more successful. Entering today’s game at Lake County, he had hit four home runs in the past four games and has 27 on the season – only three off the modern record for long balls by a Greensboro player in a season.

Donald Moore, the Grasshoppers’ chief operating officer, said he hadn’t heard from the Marlins, but non-disclosure to the involved parties is standard practice throughout baseball until a swap is consummated.

*****foxsports.com is now saying at 4:02pm that:
Two prominent Marlins prospects who have been mentioned — Class AA right-hander Ryan Tucker and Class A outfielder Michael Stanton — will not be traded, multiple sources said.*****

+++++Update from Rob Daniels of N&R, ESPN, and foxsports.com:
ESPN has reported that the Boston Red Sox and Florida Marlins did not agree to a Ramirez swap by the 4 p.m. cutoff point. Instead, the network said, the Sox have sent the future Hall of Famer to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-way transaction that also includes the PIttsburgh Pirates.+++++