AP Photo/David Zalubowski
Hanley Ramirez has reportedly agreed to a four-year deal with the Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are wasting no time revamping their lineup, reportedly agreeing Monday to a four-year, $88 million deal with Hanley Ramirez. There is a fifth-year vesting option worth an additional $22 million. The Red Sox also have an agreement in place with third baseman Pablo Sandoval, according to ESPN sources and a CBSSports.com report. Ramirez, who was traded by the Red Sox to the Miami Marlins nine years ago Monday, has ranked among the game’s top players, but his future success will likely be determined by how he holds up health-wise. What he brings: Impressive bat, injury-prone
Ramirez has been effective, but oft-injured of late. He averaged a .277/.351/.464 the past four seasons with the Marlins and Dodgers, but in only an average of 116 games per season. He hit .283 with 71 RBIs in 128 games in 2014 with the Dodgers. Defense is not Ramirez’s strong suit. He contributed minus-37 Defensive Runs Saved in the past four seasons, though a position change could be in order, given the composition of the Red Sox roster and some future moves. Even with the struggles in the field, Ramirez has been worth 8.9 Wins Above Replacement the past two seasons, and that’s despite playing in only 66 percent of his team’s games. Where does he play?
Ramirez could see time at shortstop, third base, or even in left field with a potential trade of Yoenis Cespedes. The Red Sox have had four players serve as their primary shortstop the past four seasons: Marco Scutaro, Mike Aviles, Stephen Drew and Xander Bogaerts. The highest OPS among them was Scutaro’s .785 in 2011. Bogaerts finished 2014 on a high note with an OPS of .806 and four home runs in September.
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