This is the sixth in a nine-part series previewing the Milwaukee Brewers by position leading up to Opening Day on April 6
ON THE ROSTER:
Aramis Ramirez (.285, 15 HR, 66 RBI in 133 games last year)
Luis Jimenez (.162, 0 HR, 2 RBI in 18 games for the Los Angeles Angels)
2014 IN REVIEW:
While Aramis Ramirez was elected to his third All-Star Game and voted to start by the fans, his overall offensive production continued to decline. His 15 home runs and 66 RBI were his fewest in a season in which he has played at least 100 games.
Ramirez made it through the spring healthy, but was forced to the 15-day disabled list in mid-May with a strained left hamstring. He returned to have a monster month of June, hitting .348 with six home runs and 19 RBI in 24 games. After being named the team's player of the month in August (.380, 2 HR, 13 RBI), Ramirez hit just one homer and drove in only five runs during Milwaukee's September collapse.
While Ramirez wasn't the same offensive force he has been for most of his 16-year career, the veteran still had the second-highest OPS among National League third basemen.
Mark Reynolds (29 starts at third base) was able to cover the Brewers defensively at third base, but Milwaukee's lineup simply wasn't the same when Ramirez was out. Jeff Bianchi, Elian Herrera and Hector Gomez made at least one start for the Brewers at third base in 2014.
2015 OUTLOOK
Without an in-house option ready to step in and a weak free-agent market at the positon, the Brewers acted quickly to exercise their half of Ramirez's $14 million mutual option for 2015. Instead of chasing a multiyear deal in free agency, Ramirez accepted his half of the option on Nov. 3.
Ramirez almost certainly would have received a multiyear deal had he hit the open market, but he had no interest in anything other than a one-year contract.
The 36-year-old told reporters early in spring training that he is planning on retiring after the 2015 season. That leaves the Brewers another year to figure out their future plans at third base.
Ramirez remains a critical piece for the Brewers in 2015. Not only must he stay healthy, but he must be a productive offensive threat in the middle of the lineup in order for Milwaukee to contend for the postseason.
Manager Ron Roenicke must sit down with Ramirez to come up with a plan of regular rest. Ramirez wants to play every day, but he understands he must make concessions at his age. He wants to play 140 to 145 games, a number Roenicke felt was on the high end. Ramirez hasn't played more than 149 games since 2006, while he's played over 135 games just twice in the last six seasons.
Because Ramirez is going to need regular rest, Luis Jimenez is likely to make the roster due to his ability to play third base. He's been a productive hitter in the minor leagues but has yet to carry that success up to the majors.
KEY TO SUCCESS
The Brewers must keep Ramirez fresh and healthy. If it means giving him a day off per week, so be it. Milwaukee can ill afford to lose the veteran for an extended period of time.
THEY SAID IT
"I'm used to playing every day. I've been an every-day player my whole career. You want to be out there every day. (Ron) knows I don't like to sit the bench, but I'm going to have to. I'm 36. I'm going to be 37 this summer. It doesn't get any easier. I'm going to take a break here and there. He's good about it. We talk about it." -- Ramirez
"I think that's really important -- to try to get the most out of him and to make sure we keep him on the field and strong and productive. How do we do it? You adjust to it as the season goes on, but how do we originally come up with some kind of a plan to give him his days. Not when he needs it, but days to make sure that he stays strong." -- Roenicke on Ramirez
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