2) Red Sox contract we were happy to see end: Hanley Ramirez
November 25, 2014, had more than the Sandoval contract. The Red Sox also inked free agent infielder Hanley Ramirez. Once a prized prospect of theirs, he first left the organization in 2005 when he was sent to the Florida Marlins in the Josh Beckett trade. It would take a few years before things came full circle. The reunion was one the Red Sox still probably wish they skipped.
Ramirez’s deal was worth $88 million over four years with a vesting option for a fifth season. It’s laughable in retrospect.
The Red Sox were buying one of the games’ more exciting but aging players. Ramirez wasn’t the .300+ hitter with 30 stolen bases per year he was early on. The 2015 campaign would be his age 31 season. It showed in the performance.
Ramirez hit .249/.291/.426 in his first season while appearing in 105 games. It was on-par with what Sanodval did, only a little more acceptable because he did rip 19 home runs and drive in 53. The 2016 season looked much better with Ramirez powering 30 home runs and driving in 111 while putting up a .286/.361/.505 slash line. This would, unfortunately, be the last of his best days in Boston. His bat continued to decline.
Perhaps one of the most questionable aspects of the Ramirez deal was how the Red Sox used him defensively. Year one had him playing in left field. His final seasons were at first base. What made him such a talent was that he was able to hit at a high level as a shortstop. He never did play good defense there or anywhere else the Red Sox tried to place him.
It all came to an end when the team released him in May of 2018. He wouldn’t get through his fourth year with the team. The vesting option was all fluff.