Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein said earlier in the day the team would talk about trading the disgruntled outfielder during baseball's winter meetings in Florida.

Speaking at the Red Sox Academy near Santo Domingo, Ortiz said he hoped there weren't really plans to do so.

``I hope not, you know. Manny is a very important person to the team,'' Ortiz said in Spanish.

Ortiz spoke to reporters and Red Sox trainees from the Dominican Republic and around Latin America while dedicating a new batting cage named in his honour.

A Red Sox executive also praised Ramirez for the mostly Dominican crowd, many of whom hope to follow him and Ortiz into the majors.

``Without David, without Manny, we don't win the World Series,'' Executive Vice President Charles Steinberg said in halting Spanish, flashing the team's 2004 championship ring.

Ortiz was excited about the prospect of the Red Sox signing shortstop Julio Lugo, who he called ``my brother and my friend,'' as well as outfielder J.D. Drew.

The Red Sox reached preliminary agreements Tuesday on a US$70 million, five-year contract with Drew and a $36 million, four-year deal with Lugo.

Ortiz said he was withholding judgment on Daisuke Matsuzaka, the ace Japanese pitcher for whom Boston bid $51.1 million just for negotiating rights.

``I've heard he's a good pitcher, but we're bigger over here,'' Ortiz joked.

Earlier in the day, Ortiz presented a check for $200,000 to a Santo Domingo hospital's pediatric cardiology wing.