By The Associated Press

With Boston still discussing a three-team trade that would send Manny Ramirez to the New York Mets, the Red Sox removed the All-Star outfielder from their game against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday night.

An official involved in the talks said Saturday evening that the sides were still far apart in the much-discussed, three-team trade, which also involved the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

“After meeting with Manny Ramirez, manager Terry Francona made the decision shortly before game time that, under the circumstances, it was in the best interests of the club and of Manny that he not be in the starting lineup tonight,” the Red Sox said in a statement.

New York Mets outfielder Mike Cameron said he was upset by talk that he could be included in a trade for the Red Sox All-Star slugger. The Mets would also include outfielder Lastings Milledge, the 12th overall pick in the 2003 amateur draft. Devil Rays general manager Chuck LaMar said he expected talks could continue until Sunday afternoon’s 4 p.m. EDT deadline for trades without waivers.

“We have had discussions with both teams, not only in a combined deal, but separate deals with each one of those teams,” he said in Tampa Bay. “It’s hard enough to make a real good trade (with two teams). When you start adding a third team, there are a lot of logistics.”

In other trade talk:

• The Chicago White Sox were talking to the Devil Rays about closer Danys Baez and outfielder Aubrey Huff, who were involved in discussions in the three-team trade.

• The New York Yankees were talking with Seattle about Randy Winn – who didn’t play Saturday – and with San Francisco about reliever Scott Eyre. New York also signed left-hander Alan Embree, released by Boston a day earlier. The Giants also talked with the Mariners about a trade for Winn.

• Minnesota was also talking to the Mariners about Winn as a possible replacement for injured center fielder Torii Hunter. The Twins also were said by an official with another team to have inquired about Texas second baseman Alfonso Soriano.

Winn was in Seattle’s original lineup Saturday but was scratched, and Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi was asked if anything should be read into that.

“Not yet,” he said.

• Astros general manager Tim Purpura said his team had a trade in place for a veteran pitcher, but the pitcher, whom he didn’t identify, rejected it using his rights as a 10-year veteran who had been with his team for five years.

It is possible the pitcher involved was Seattle’s Jamie Moyer.

• Friday’s trade that sent Phil Nevin from San Diego to Texas for pitcher Chan Ho Park was approved by the commissioner’s office and finalized.