It must pain the Sox to have dealt away Ramirez a few years back, only to see him turn into one of the best players in the game. Still, they guys they got helped them to two World Series, so they can’t complain.

The Red Sox made a play to re-acquire Marlins superstar Hanley Ramirez after losing out to the rival Yankees for star free agent Mark Teixeira, league sources tell SI.com. But while the Marlins listened to Boston’s overtures, Florida isn’t anxious to trade its best player, and talks apparently have been aborted after no agreement could be reached. The Marlins were said to be most interested in a center fielder, and discussions apparently centered on Boston’s promising youngster Jacoby Ellsbury, talented pitching prospect Clay Buchholz and others in a package for Ramirez, who began in Boston’s organization. – From SI.com

The Red Sox have an agreement in place with pitcher Brad Penny that will be finalized tomorrow, a source confirmed tonight. The one-year deal will have a base salary of $5 million. Incentives and performance bonuses can increase the total deal another $3 million if Penny pitches more than 160 innings. Penny, 29, went 6-9 with a 6.27 ERA in 17 starts and two relief appearances last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was shut down in July with tendinitis in his right shoulder, but returned, albeit with little effectiveness, in the final weeks of the season. – From Boston Herald

The Red Sox are nearing an agreement with free-agent righthanded starting pitcher Brad Penny, according to baseball sources. The one-year deal would be worth $5 million, with $3 million in performance bonuses believed to start at approximately 160 innings pitched. In a separate deal, the Sox are also nearing an agreement with free-agent catcher Josh Bard, according to baseball sources. The one-year deal, which is not guaranteed, would be worth $1.6 million and would include a team option, according to sources. Both potential deals are pending physicals. – From boston.com

Seeking to fortify its core assets, New York Times Co. is actively shopping its stake in the holding company of the Boston Red Sox baseball club, according to two people familiar with the discussions. Times Co., which faces a cash shortage accelerated by steep industrywide revenue declines, has been rumored for months to be open to selling noncore assets. Besides its flagship newspaper, Times Co. owns the Boston Globe, About.com and a 17.5% stake in New England Sports Ventures, which owns the Red Sox, their fabled ballpark Fenway Park and most of the cable network that airs the team’s games. – from WSJ

The Times got the Red Sox stake in 2002 as part of a group led by hedge fund manager John Henry that bought the team, Fenway Park and an 80 percent stake in the New England Sports Network. The price for the deal was $700 million, including debt. The network also includes a NASCAR auto-racing team. – from Reuters

The New York Times Company is trying to sell its stake in the Boston Red Sox baseball team, seeking to raise cash and shield its newspaper franchise from rapidly falling revenue, a person briefed on the plans said on Wednesday. Under pressure from investors to sell noncore assets in recent years, executives of the Times Company have said repeatedly that they were open to selling the stake, but only on the right terms. – from NYTimes

Thursday afternoon it looked as if the Boston Red Sox had taken strides toward completing a deal for first baseman Mark Teixeira. But by Thursday night, Red Sox owner John Henry had sent an email to The Associated Press saying they had been outbid for Teixeira and “are not going to be a factor” in acquiring him. “We met with Mr. Teixeira and were very much impressed with him,” Henry told the Associated Press. “After hearing about his other offers, however, it seems clear that we are not going to be a factor.” – From ESPN

The Red Sox are in the lead heading down the stretch, no club is going as high as 10 years and the Orioles are fading out of the race. If the latest reports are accurate, this is where the Mark Teixeira derby stands as the owners and general managers go to their fiscal whips. – From MLB.com

Free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira is expected to make a decision on his new team in the very near future, potentially even in the next 24-to-48 hours. In the meantime, we’re all stuck devouring the latest scraps from the rumor mill. – From Fanhouse.com

As the bidding intensifies for free agent Mark Teixeira, the Red Sox [team stats] have let it be known they are willing to go only so far. Should another team up the ante and, as has been speculated, offer a 10-year deal, the Sox won’t be willing to go to such lengths to sign the first baseman. – From Boston Herald