Third baseman Aramis Ramirez appeared to show a newfound willingness to leave the Cubs on Thursday, telling Chicago reporters, “If they come to me with a trade, we’ll see.”

Ramirez’s comments, however, did not come out the way he intended, according to his agent, Paul Kinzer – and the player’s reluctance to waive his no-trade protection before Sunday’s non-waiver deadline remains unchanged.

“He doesn’t want to go anywhere,” Kinzer told FOXSports.com after speaking with Ramirez on Thursday night. “It didn’t come out the way he meant it to.”

Ramirez, in a meeting with Cubs general manager Jim Hendry more than two weeks ago, said he wanted to stay with the club, Kinzer said. As a player with 10 years of service, five with the same club, Ramirez reserves the right to block any trade.

Kinzer told FOXSports.com recently that Ramirez might reconsider his position during the August waiver period, after his family returns to the Dominican Republic. Ramirez alluded to his family while speaking to reporters Thursday after the Cubs’ 4-2 loss to the Brewers.

“That’s not a secret. Everyone knows that,” Ramirez said. “But I also understand this is a business. I don’t know which way they want to go. If they’re looking to rebuild, I can’t fit in, we’ll see.”

The Angels, in particular, might jump if Ramirez became available. Kinzer, however, said that Ramirez still does not want to leave the Cubs.

“Nothing has changed,” the agent said. “He said if they go young, he would do it. But he doesn’t want to leave Chicago. He isn’t going anywhere.

“‘Rammy’ has never wavered as far as wanting to stay in Chicago. If he had his way, he would sign an extension and stay right there.”

Ramirez is earning $14.6 million this season, and the Cubs hold a $16 million club option on him for 2012. The option becomes guaranteed if he is traded, but Kinzer has said that Ramirez would want the option dropped as a condition of any trade, enabling him to become a free agent at the end of the season.

-Ken Rosenthal