Boston Red Sox fans waking up this morning are probably still hung over from the fact that Manny Ramirez, the face of the franchise for the last eight years, was traded away.

In a three-way deal, Ramirez was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers with the Red Sox landing outfielder Jason Bay from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Yesterday’s trade continues a trend with the Red Sox organization doing whatever it takes to get outspoken players of color out of Boston.

Rewind to 2004 when popular shortstop Nomar Garciaparra was in the middle of a contract dispute with the Red Sox.

Garciaparra turned down a 4-year, $60 million deal and wanted to be paid equivalent to his peers in Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter.

Next thing you know, Garciaparra was sent packing, leaving Red Sox fans wondering why did they get rid of “NO-mah.”

“Manny said he didn’t want to leave there,” Garciaparra said. “I didn’t want to leave there. . . . Were we the only ones that have gone through it? There’s a track record.

During the last couple of weeks, Ramirez has become more outspoken, taking direct shots at Red Sox management for not appreciating his talent on the field.

 ”The Red Sox don’t deserve a player like me,” Ramirez told ESPN the other day. “During my years here, I’ve seen how they have mistreated other great players when they didn’t want them, to try to turn the fans against them.

“The Red Sox did the same with guys like Nomar Garciaparra and Pedro Martinez, and now they do the same with me. Their goal is to paint me as the bad guy.”

This wasn’t just “Manny being Manny” in the eyes of Red Sox management.

They were so desperate to trade Ramirez that they are paying the rest of the $7 million on his contract for this season.

Let this be a warning to David Ortiz.

Keep your mouth shut … or else you can join Nomah and Manny out in Hollywood.

TAGS: Boston Red Sox, Manny Ramirez, MLB, Nomar Garciaparra

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