Courage takes many different shapes. For Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein, the courage to remain inactive might be the biggest storyline of the 2005 baseball season.

In 2004, Epstein showed courage to make one of the biggest trades in the history of the franchise. He sent Nomar Garciaparra, one of the team’s most popular players ever, to the Cubs. The Sox went on to win the World Series.

This year, Epstein showed great courage again. He was wise not to make a big deal. The Sox GM reportedly was involved in complicated discussions with several teams that could’ve moved the 2004 World Series MVP before the trade deadline this past Sunday. Make no mistake, Epstein would’ve made that decision for the right deal.

That deal never materialized. Epstein could’ve moved Manny and gotten another team to pick up the entire salary remaining on his contract. However, the Sox wouldn’t have gotten anything close to equivalent value in return. They could’ve used the newfound savings in the free-agent market this winter, but that wouldn’t help them now.

Theo clearly saw an opportunity for this team in the coming months. The Sox began August in first place for the first time in 10 years, and none of the other teams in the hunt made any big moves. They were riding an eight-game winning streak and are 3 1/2 games ahead of the Yankees in the East.

Do the Sox have what it takes to win it all again? Maybe. Would they have what it takes to win it all again without Manny Ramirez? Absolutely not. Put Aubrey Huff or Mike Cameron in the lineup, and the Sox just aren’t as good. Put both of them in the lineup and they’re not as good. Manny and David Ortiz combine for the game’s best one-two punch, and they need that punch to take a shot at a second straight title.

Last week, I called Manny out for his lack of hustle and unwillingness to play when his team needed him most. No doubt, it won’t be the last trip Ramirez ever takes to “Mannyland.” Still, if the Sox want to take another trip deep into October, this current roster is better than any lineup Theo could’ve put together over the weekend. The time may come to move Manny – perhaps as early as this season – but a deadline deal would’ve hurt Boston’s chances to get it done now.

Of course, calling Epstein inactive is underestimating what he’s really done. In the weeks leading up to last Sunday’s deadline, he added Tony Graffanino, Alex Cora, Jose Cruz, Jr., and Gabe Kapler. They might be considered bit parts on this team, but it shows the front office’s dedication to make the roster as strong as possible.

That dedication will undoubtedly lead to more tweaking of the roster in post-waiver deadline trades. The roster you see right now isn’t the one you’ll see at the end of the season, but this team should be good enough to play beyond that. Look around the AL, and the Sox stack up favorably to everyone. There is a realistic shot at playing in late October again, and Manny Ramirez gives them the best chance to do it.

Lewiston native Tom Caron is a sports analyst for NESN Red Sox and Bruins telecasts.