Red Sox: Dombrowski has finished housecleaning with Hanley Ramirez depature
By Rick McNair
The Boston Red Sox have erased another signing mistake with the departure of Hanley Ramirez. What they will not erase is the lost money that could have gone elsewhere.
The housecleaning from the previous Boston Red Sox administration is now complete. Ben Cherington is gone due to his “resignation” and several others within the organization have gone elsewhere. Even manager in waiting Torey Lovullo has moved elsewhere. And former manager John Farrell was finally axed after a World Series win and back-to-back 93 win seasons.
The real notoriety is player movement and with the DFA of Hanley Ramirez, a series of costly mistakes is now swept away. Pablo Sandoval, Allen Craig, and Rusney Castillo. How many millions? What was the return? Ramirez was the most productive, but Castillo remains in Pawtucket and will until his contract deprecates enough to be traded or released.
More from Red Sox News
- Red Sox Nation deserves far more from Fenway Sports Group
- Bizarre trade deadline comes back to haunt Red Sox after Nathan Eovaldi departure
- Red Sox’ Moneyball-style offseason continues with Corey Kluber contract
- Rich Hill’s Red Sox departure puts him within striking distance of unique MLB record
- Red Sox offseason takes another nasty hit with Nathan Eovaldi departure
Now with a new administration comes a new series of potential mistakes. The baseball jury is still in session regarding David Price. The Price contract of $217 million would be great if you had Chris Sale results. You don’t and probably never will. Maybe the next GM or president of baseball operations can deal with that in a few years.
With fresh management, you get fresh mistakes, but the Red Sox have been rather forward on the lack of excuse making for their blunders. The “right” things are said for the public, but behind the scenes, I imagine a different story. They simply move on.
The beauty of all the money being simply wasted is the Red Sox can afford it. They have managed to create a financial empire with the key being the Red Sox as a motivator. Without a successful team and a fawning fan base no real estate empire, sports conglomerate, or newspaper of note would exist. Never forget, RSN, we are paying the fiscal freight for management mistakes.
The Ramirez move was a surprise or not a surprise. Pay me now or pay me later as the old commercial for a questionable transmission service goes. The Red Sox simply paid now and saved the dollars down the road of not having a Sword of Damocles option haunting them. Smart.
The baseball facts of life are Ramirez simply was not the Ramirez of his salad days in Miami. But Hanley was also a solid citizen and never the “Clubhouse Cancer” many had predicted. Ramirez was a respected teammate and was willing to endure public embarrassment with his ill-fated trip to left field. No complaints surfaced. If I was getting $22 million I would not complain, either.
Next: Red Sox versus Braves series preview
Ramirez is gone, but will not be forgotten. The $86 million contract provided a far greater return – as bad as it may have been – as several others. Ramirez will also surface elsewhere as there is still some baseball life to be used. Just how productive is questionable, but Hanley can play first base and certainly DH. I wish him well except against Boston.