As Johnny Damon was still deciding whether to defect to the Yankees, he leaned on some stunning advice from Manny Ramirez, Damon and his wife told The Post yesterday.
Before Damon agreed to his four-year, $52 million contract, he spoke by phone to Ramirez for some guidance and the latest information about the Boston left fielder’s trade demand.
Even though Ramirez still is under contract with the Red Sox, he urged Damon over to the other side of baseball’s best rivalry.
“Manny said, ‘You should go to New York,’ ” Michelle Damon told The Post.
Johnny Damon confirmed the conversation. Ramirez also may be open to coming to New York, with the Mets.
Earlier this year, Ramirez made it known he prefers to be traded to the Angels or Mariners. It is believed he is willing to go to the Orioles, and the Red Sox dangled him in front of the Phillies earlier this winter.
Damon said Boston is “dismantling” its roster.
Michelle is friends with Ramirez’s wife, Juliana, and they also spoke recently. Johnny Damon said he spoke with a number of other Boston teammates, including David Ortiz.
“They told me, ‘Congratulations,’ ” the new Yankees center fielder said.
Although Ramirez, who attended George Washington High School in Washington Heights, said in July he didn’t want to play for the Mets, he apparently has changed his mind and now would consider a trade here. However, the Mets feel it will be even more difficult to trade for Ramirez now that he’s one of the few remaining run producers in Boston’s lineup.