Mystery team for Manny Ramirez? It’s not the Cardinals

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Scott Boras, the agent for Manny Ramirez, told The Times’ Dylan Hernandez last night that he had started to negotiate with clubs other than the Dodgers.

But if not the Giants, then who else?

Boras wouldn’t say, but a rumor circulated today that the Cardinals might be interested in Ramirez.

Albert Pujols, after all, was quoted by the Dominican Republic newspaper El Caribe as saying he had asked the Cardinals to sign Ramirez. And, three years ago, when no one thought Barry Bonds had any suitors besides the Giants, Cardinals Manager Tony La Russa met privately with Bonds’ agent at the winter meetings.

So we called Cardinals General Manager John Mozeliak. Is your team interested in Ramirez?

‘The answer is no,’ Mozeliak said.

Scratch another mystery team off the list.

-- Bill Shaikin