MLB Trade Rumors claims to have information pointing to the Red Sox shopping closer/BBQ enthusiast Keith Foulke. Supposedly, Boston would be willing to eat a large portion of Foulke’s salary if they were successful finding a taker.

My Boston source is telling me Foulke will get some attention as a setup man this offseason after the free agent market runs dry. Despite the surgeries, several teams feel that Foulke’s problems in 2005 were largely mechanical and can be fixed. The Sox are looking to shed Foulke, and may be willing to pay half of his $7.25MM 2006 salary. Foulke has a $7.5MM option for 2007 that could vest with a strong 2006 performance (53 games finished would do the trick). The recent of Guillermo Mota makes Foulke slightly more expendable.

Though I’d feel a lot better knowing for certain this source has never been a member of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, I’m willing to make the leap of faith if you are.

It would appear as though whatever little leverage Boston might have in dealing Manny Ramirez has decreased , as one of the two of teams the spacey LF would accept a trade to says they’re uninterested.