Dump Manny? That’s the question that will be on the minds of Red Sox fans and brass alike this offseason. It may be easier said than done. Our sparring partners take a look at both sides now...

Dennis Whitton: Well, this year Dave, our old pal Manny Ramirez quit on his teammates in early August. What will it be next year, June? It’s high time and then some to get rid of this idiot savant, take 10 cents on the dollar for him or whatever. He’s already issued his annual off-season trade demand, so what’s the holdup?

David Pevear: The big holdup is Big Papi. Without Ramirez coming up next, opponents would have no reason to pitch to David Ortiz in any crucial situation if it could be avoided. Ortiz would hit 60 solo homers and walk 300 times next season. Ortiz without Ramirez would be like Tom Brady without David Givens and Deion Branch. And how is that looking?

Whitton: Get some table-setters on in front of the Papi-nator and they won’t be walking him. Manny’s act has worn as thin as a Fathead. It’s time for Theo Epstein to earn his pay and put a couple packages together to get Ramirez out of town and Andruw Jones into town. That will take care of anybody trying to put Ortiz on base via the intentional base on balls.

Pevear: Now is not the time for the Manny-coddlers upstairs to all of a sudden develop high Yankee-like ideals. The Red Sox have made it this far on Ramirez’s eight-year, $160 million gift from Dan Duquette. They might as well stick it out for the final two years. No way they can scrape Manny off their shoes and hope to stick close to New York in 2007.

Whitton: Stick close to New York? The way this team is constituted they would be lucky to stick close to Tampa Bay in 2007. The pitching staff is either too old or too young, the lack of depth has been exposed ad naseum since the Yankee Massacre, the great defensive infield of Loretta, Gonzalez and Lowell may all be gone next year, and Wily Mo Pena is penciled in as your everyday right fielder. The Sox will not be sticking close to the Yankees next year Dave, believe me. With only two years left to pay Ramirez, somebody (like theAngels?) may be willing to take him off our hands, and we can spread that money around to fill the multitude of leaks that the good ship BoSox has sprung.

Pevear: Because only two years remain on Manny’s contract, he does become more affordable to other big-spending teams. But no team will give up anything approaching equal value for Manny, particularly sensing Boston’s desperation to unload its problem. And even if the Red Sox were to free up Manny’s millions, there is no great pitching out there to spend it on. This is why Theo Epstein is so in love with the promise of Jon Lester, Craig Hansen and Manny Delcarmen. The Red Sox’s best bet to unload Manny is to find a team also looking to unload a hefty superstar contract. How about Manny to the Yankees for Alex Rodriguez?

Whitton: I’d take that in a heartbeat, Dave, but I don’t think the Yankees need any more outfielders or DH’s. They seem to be pretty well stocked in those departments. It’s just too bad the Yanks don’t have any healthy pitchers, or they might make it to the World Series this year. Instead, it’s going to be another chapter in the shoulda-coulda-woulda story of the Bombers.

Pevear: The Yankees’ thin pitching proves there is no pitching out there to be bought. If it were out there, the Yankees would have bought it. The Red Sox should pencil Manny into the cleanup spot for another two years and remain competitive while developing their young pitchers. Just have Theo and Terry Francona crawl on their bellies to Manny and beg him to please play. He might say yes.

What are your thoughts on the Manny Ramirez debate? Which of these guys scored a knockout...Whitton or Pevear?