Red Sox Rumors: Trading for Jose Ramirez would solidify the infield

The Red Sox should check with Cleveland on the cost of Jose Ramirez

The Boston Red Sox infield is relatively set in stone entering the 2022 season with the possible exception of second base. Depending on how they address the outfield, Enrique Hernandez could end up sticking primarily in center field. That would leave Christian Arroyo as the favorite to start at second on Opening Day, but considering the journeyman infielder has appeared in fewer than 60 games in each of his five seasons in the majors, Boston should be in the market for an upgrade.

ESPN’s Buster Olney expects a “hurricane of activity” once the lockout ends. Among the priorities likely to be addressed quickly will be clubs checking in on the availability of Cleveland Guardians star Jose Ramirez. Olney includes the Red Sox as a team looking for infielders that should at least pose the appropriate questions about Ramirez.

Ramirez’s favorable contract means that a rebuilding Guardians team isn’t necessarily pressured to trade him. He’s a bargain at $12 million this year plus a $13 million team option for 2023. It’s an affordable price tag for Cleveland but the trade that sent Francisco Lindor to the Mets taught us that this isn’t a franchise willing to pay up to retain their star talent. It’s unlikely the Guardians will re-sign Ramirez when he hits free agency at the age of 31, which makes now the ideal time to consider a trade in order to maximize his value.

The three-time All-Star had another terrific season in 2021, hitting .266/.355/.538 with 36 home runs, 103 RBI and 27 stolen bases. Ramirez finished sixth in the AL MVP race and he was top-three on the ballot in three of the previous four seasons.

He draws walks at a solid rate to offset a mediocre batting average and he rarely strikes out. His Statcast data is between above-average and elite across the board. Ramirez ranked 31st in the majors with 8.2 Barrels per plate appearance last season, per Baseball Savant.

Since 2016, Ramirez has produced 33.7 WAR, per FanGraphs, trailing only Mike Trout (39.3) and Mookie Betts (37.4) over that span.

While he’s played primarily third base in recent seasons, Ramirez has experience at second base. He hasn’t spent time at the position since 2018 but he rated above-average defensively when he played there in the past. After producing a career-high 10 defensive runs saved at the hot corner last year, there’s little reason to be concerned about Ramirez being capable of a transition back to second.

Ramirez would be the perfect short-term solution at second base while the Red Sox wait for Nick Yorke, who is probably two years away from the big leagues after spending last year in Single-A. Boston could also move Ramirez back to third in 2023 if J.D. Martinez departs in free agency, opening up the designated hitter role for the defensively-challenged Rafael Devers.

There will be no shortage of interest if the Guardians make Ramirez available and his appealing contract opens the field to a wider range of suitors. It would take an impressive haul to pry him away from Cleveland but a vastly improved Red Sox farm system has the chips to make an enticing offer. Boston has a surplus of position players on their major league roster and in the minors. There won’t be room for all of them long-term so packaging some pieces together to acquire a star player to win now is a viable strategy.