Boston Red Sox reportedly shopping Hanley Ramirez
The Boston Red Sox are reportedly looking to trade first baseman/designated hitter Hanley Ramirez.
According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, there's talk that new Red Sox GM Dave Dombrowski is "trying to move Ramirez in a deal."
The Mariners, Orioles and Angels are all listed as potential trade partners, but Cafardo also mentions the "huge hurdles" that would have to be crossed to work out a deal:
But in true Hot Stove fashion, it didn't take long for another Boston reporter to refute the report. Sunday night, Rob Bradford reported that a high-ranking team source definitively told WEEI.com in regards to Ramirez, "He is going to be our first baseman."
While Ramirez is a career .300 hitter, he's coming off a down season, in which he batted just .249 with an on-base percentage of .291. Ramirez has a history of being injury-prone, which apparently caught up with him this past season. The infielder-turned-outfielder gained nearly 25 pounds, leading the Red Sox to ask him to lose weight.
"One is money. With a little more than $68 million remaining on Ramirez’s deal, the Red Sox would need to eat at least half. The other hurdle is position. All three teams would have use for him as a DH. Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto, after evaluating the Sox organization, knows Ramirez’s weaknesses. Dan Duquette of the Orioles signed Ramirez originally with the Red Sox and has always loved his bat. Duquette also faces the possibility of losing Chris Davis. The Angels could use another bat. There is also a question as to whether Ramirez could play third base. If he lost the 20 pounds the Sox want him to, maybe."
High-ranking Red Sox source adamant on Hanley: 'He is going to be our first baseman' https://t.co/qL9bIoZSI5
— Rob Bradford (@bradfo) November 30, 2015
