Red Sox: Possible exit strategy for Hanley Ramirez

The Boston Red Sox have a designated hitter who isn’t hitting. Is there a way – logical or illogical – to replace Hanley Ramirez?

The Boston Red Sox are trapped. Their payroll is trapped and the ability to mix and match on the field is trapped. One reason among many is simple – Hanley Ramirez.

Ramirez in the field at first base – his only real defensive option – can be adequate at best. I will leave out the statistics for left field in 2015.

In 2016, Ramirez was part of a weak collection of defensive players at the first base sack in the American League. Touching on just two metrics shows what digger deeper with the rest will trend. Ramirez went negative with a -4.7 UZR/150 and -5 in Defensive Runs saved. Figures that are essentially meaningless if your team loses 90+ games, but critical if they are digging for the playoffs. That did not go unnoticed by baseball operations.

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The Red Sox took a swipe at Gold Glove winner Mitch Moreland, signing him to a one-year deal. So far the results have been refreshing. Moreland is a defensive anchor and can hit rather well. Quite possibly, Moreland could be the under the radar free agent success of the offseason. Ramirez is where expected – designated hitter.

Full disclosure is I was an ardent member of the anti-Ramirez signing faction. After an “I told you so” in 2015 I had to go into hibernation in 2016. Now I am back with the rant of “How do we dump this guy?” And, naturally, “Why do we dump this guy?” Let’s start with the latter.

Ramirez is simply not worth it on salary or with his only real selling point – his hitting. The Red Sox (and ultimately their fans) are paying almost $23 Million this season and next for inconsistency and under-performing. Ramirez is ranked tenth among American League designated hitters. His fWAR is -0.3. Your return on investment is nil. Buying up shares of defunct World Com is possibly more attractive.

The plus with Ramirez is his adjustment to Boston. A noted petulant player, Hanley has soldiered on with defensive switches and moving around the batting order. All have been accepted – at least on the surface. But I have heard nary a complaint from Ramirez, who is certainly setting a positive veteran example for the talent younger players.

So how do you get rid of Ramirez?

Hanley gets paid either by the Red Sox or someone else. His book value is based on a season and one-half with the potential of another $22 Million kicking in on a vesting option. That is a lot of dough for a DH and a DH that has been neutered. But a template does exist and always has – there is always one born every minute and baseball has their fair share of GM’s willing to risk it all for that one down to the wire bat that could (1) Get his team into the playoffs and (2) Save his job.

That, of course, is well known and despite rashness, a GM will still “negotiate” since they are taking on the extraordinary payroll of Ramirez. The Red Sox may have to contribute “Dead Money” and the return in prospects would be amended – no Yoan Moncada types being sent to Boston.

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The Red Sox would also perceive as tossing in the towel by giving up on Ramirez and thus giving up on the season. Much is dependent upon where they sit in the standings and the possible performance of Sam Travis. Travis does – despite his limited MLB experience – represent the future at either DH or first base. Risky for sure if they are in the hunt – and most assuredly they should be. With an offense on track to score 150 fewer runs than 2016 Ramirez will probably stay despite his performance. Too bad.

The Red Sox are missing that Big Bat in the middle of the order that resonates throughout the entire lineup. Ramirez was expected to be that Big Bat, and he has not performed as hoped for. The Red Sox passed on other options in the off-season as part of a sudden fiscal sanity initiative and it is showing.

This – quite naturally – is all conjecture with the strong whiff of “Fire Sale” attached. Sometimes you can manage both within a season – a fire sale and still stay competitive. Every opportunity should be examined on Ramirez for the potential for on-field improvement and fiscal salvation.

Next: Red Sox reportedly pursuing Sonny Gray

The Red Sox made signing blunders and some were understandable. The hindsight means nothing since the key is the here and now and that means Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval can be tossed in. The Red Sox have a bundle of dead weight and that needs to be cleansed ASAP. The process may be painful, but like a root canal –may be necessary.

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