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Today's non-waiver trade deadline came and went without a Manny Ramirez deal that might have included Grasshoppers outfielder Mike Stanton. 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.

Late Wednesday, reports of a complicated trade involving three or more teams surfaced in various media outlets. Among the potential scenarios: one that would have ultimately sent Stanton, who has hit 17 homers since June 1, to Boston or Pittsburgh.

Stanton has developed as a major prospect this season. After a relatively high strikeout rate in April and May, he 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 he has 27 on the season - only three off the modern record for long balls by a Greensboro player in a season.

Stanton played as usual today in the Hoppers' 4-3 loss at Lake County. He went 1-for-4 with an RBI, his 67th of the year. The Hoppers, who have struggled in the second half of the South Atlantic League season, conclude their series at Lake County today and return home on Saturday.

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

Moore said his franchise has only been a party to one deadline deal in the past five years. On July 31, 2004, the Marlins obtained Ismael Valdez from San Diego in exchange for pitcher Travis Chick, who was 6-4 with 112 strikeouts in 91 innings for the Bats at the time. Later traded to the Seattle organization, Chick made three appearances for the Mariners in 2006 and is now at Double-A West Tennessee.

Contact Rob Daniels at 373-7028 or rob.daniels@news-record.com