FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) - Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez arrived at spring training Wednesday, six days after the team's first full-squad workout and one day after Major League Baseball's mandatory reporting date.

Ramirez, who hit .292 with 45 home runs and 144 RBIs last season, was allowed an extra week away to continue working out near his Miami home. Fans eagerly waited to see if Ramirez would show up. He requested a trade over the winter and hinted that he might not report if the request wasn't honored.

But Wednesday morning, Ramirez walked into the team's locker room in Fort Myers - a glove in hand. He didn't speak to reporters. Practice was scheduled for later Monday.

Manager Terry Francona said Tuesday he hadn't spoken with Ramirez since Feb. 20, when a lengthy phone conversation swayed him and general manager Theo Epstein to approve Ramirez's late arrival.

He also said he didn't expect Ramirez's tardiness to cause a problem.

"I think it will be fine,'' Francona said. "I think to view it any other way would be unfair to Manny.''

Ramirez was originally expected to join the Dominican Republic's team for the World Baseball Classic on Thursday, but Red Sox owner John Henry said last week that Ramirez would skip the event and spend the month playing with the team.