June 1: The Red Sox formally announced that Ramirez cleared waivers and has been released. He is now a free agent.
May 30: The Red Sox have requested release waivers on first baseman/designated hitter Hanley Ramirez, whom they designated for assignment late last week, reports Rob Bradford of WEEI.com (via Twitter). He’ll likely clear those waivers in 48 hours and become a free agent who can sign with a new club for the pro-rated portion of the league minimum.
The move to release Ramirez comes as no surprise. While Boston surely explored trade possibilities for Ramirez, the slugger had more than $15MM remaining on his 2018 salary at the time of his DFA, and his contract also contains a $22MM vesting option that would trigger if he received another 302 plate appearances. Any team acquiring him via either trade or waivers would also be on the hook for that salary and the potential vesting option, both of which are highly unappealing for potential suitors.
However, once Ramirez is released by the Red Sox, those provisions will fade away. He’ll still be owed the balance of this season’s $22MM salary, but the Red Sox will be on the hook for that sum (minus the pro-rated league minimum he’d be paid by another club). The vesting option, meanwhile, is tied to the contract from which he is about to be released and will not apply when he signs a new contract with a new club.
Ramirez, 34, looked resurgent early in the season, raking at a .330/.400/.474 clip in the month of April as he distanced himself from last year’s shoulder troubles. However, Ramirez’s bat has gone ice cold in recent weeks; his Red Sox tenure ended in an 0-for-21 freefall, and he’s posted a putrid .163/.200/.300 batting line since May 1, which has more than offset his strong April showing. By measure of OPS+ (88) and wRC+ (90), his overall offensive output on the season rates worse than that of a league-average hitter.
All that said, a player with Ramirez’s raw ability and track record will surely attract interest from teams in need of help at first base/DH or a corner bat off the bench. He’ll soon have the chance to listen to offers from interested parties before ultimately selecting a new team. Speculatively speaking, it seems likely that a 34-year-old with postseason experience will prefer the opportunity to latch on with a contending club.
For those of you following Han-Ram’s career:
He needs:
31 home runs to reach 300 HR
91 RBI to reach 1,000 RBI
175 Hits to reach 2,000 hits
19 SB to reach 300 stolen bases
26 doubles to reach 400 doubles
Career Accomplishments:
3x All Star (2008-2010)
NL Rookie of the Year (2006)
NL Batting champion (2009)
Gold- 2013 World Baseball Classic ( Dominican Rep )
The guy is 34 years old. Will he finish in HOF? Who will he sign with.
“Will he finish in HOF?” Seriously?
Not even close…
call me after 1175 more hits
This is, probably, the lowest point of Hanley’s career, but I think he’s had a better career than most give him credit for because of his perceived attitude. I wonder how much he has left in the tank
He was Very good his first 5 years….then average (with small bursts of good) until he hit 31. After that he had one good year but otherwise pretty blah. The tank is nearing empty and fumes to follow.
Absolutely no one cares about the WBC man, cmon.
Maybe people in the USA don’t appreciate it, but every other competing country and their people do appreciate it.
Hanley is well, well short of HoF consideration.
As short as he was with his defensive play.
No he won’t be in the hall of fame
Two
Miami will be all over this
Cheap and a friend star for them
Former star for them *
Probably not if Mattingly has anything to say about. Remember Hanley in LA, also he is not Jeters type of player.
Maybe not but they need to bring fans back some how
They just sold 3 faces of the franchise to begin the year
What is Jeter’s “type of player”? Hot garbage? Because that roster blows.
Hey Cam calm down. If you gave Theo a break for rebuilding the cubs then Derek deserves that space as well.
Marlins are farther along then the Cubs, Astros, and certainly the White Sox in the first year of tanking. Cam maybe Jeter will take your call on player moves.
He may not be able to call Jeter until his application is approved by the MLB. Cam is buying Peter Angelos out and is soon to be announced as the new owner of the Orioles.
Completely agree. It’s not every day an organization can bring back a marquis name from yesteryear at league minimum with the strong possibility he’ll be productive. To be clear, what I just described DOES NOT pertain to Pablo Sandoval and the Giants.
How does it not describe Pablo when that’s exactly what happened. Pablo has been productive since returning to San francisco. People hate on Pablo because they look at him and think, well if he can play I should be able to play too, yet can’t. Sorry but the panda is much loved in the bay. Plus he is getting paid by Boston, it doesn’t get any better.
Hanley was traded from Miami after dogging it time and time again. Good riddance.
Great point. His most memorable moment with the Marlins was when his manager came into the field to yank him off the field for jacking it.
“ . . . yank him off the field for jacking it.”
The word is “jaking”, mikeyank. Were he doing as you suggest he’d likely have been arrested. Cheers.
ummmm… no? lol. not a hall of famer
Hall of Good maybe but Hall of Fame? No way.
Would be cool to see him back for the fish. Waiting to see the Braves claim him and throw him at third can’t be any worse than Bautista
Nobody will claim him. They’d be on the hook for his entire salary and have to deal with the potential of the option vesting. Everyone with any interest will wait until he clears and is a free agent — pro rated minimum salary and no option for next year.
Really you don’t say
No, a team can sign him for the minimum, and the Sox are still on the hook for the balance of the contract less that minimum.
Xabial his agent?
Not his agent…
Xabial is his hairdresser. He’s been washing, blow drying and braiding his dreads since his dodgers’ days.
mikeyank55, Lol no, I’m a Yankee fan, like you.
How about Clint Frazier’s barber? twitter.com/YankeesPR/status/840202798373445633
Clint is a smart kid. He took the hint under the old manager and the problem went away. That’s the Yankee way.
As for the guy you were plugging for HOF, he has as good a chance as any malcontent who got some basehits.
When/If he reaches those milestones he will join only 6 other players; Beltran, Dawson, Finley, ARod, Mays and Bonds. Not too bad a career. Imagine just how good those numbers could have been with a harder work ethic.
Those words are not in Hanley’s vocabulary. He’s slightly ahead attitude wise of his cousin Manny.
No; he’s not even probably going to get 2000 hits and no modern hitter has gotten in with less than 2000. The rest of those numbers are good but not HoF worthy
Different topic, & completely different player, but this is probably biggest knock on Mark Teixeira. (1862 hits, but a cool 409 home runs, 400 doubles, & my opinion, best defensive 1B of his generation) As unlikely as it looks, Hope Teix makes it.
Yeah, I mean, Adam Dunn had more homers and a higher OBP and a similar Slg% but also didn’t get close to 2000 hits. This might doom Utley’s chances as well unless he can stumble into 126 more hits. I don’t necessarily agree with the 2000 hits threshold, and I think younger voters, as they replace older Hall voters, will overlook some of that stuff but obviously it will be too late for some of those guys who had good careers but didn’t reach arbitrary numbers.
Dunn wasn’t anywhere near defender as Teix: (-103 DRS, -92.0 UZR) Teix: +103 DRS +59 UZR
Wouldn’t Dunn’s .237 BA be an insult to HOF? Dunn had 53 more hr than Teix, but shouldn’t make up for .237 BA. Teix’s career .268 BA is significantly better than Dunn’s .237 BA.
The defense is a good point but the BA doesn’t matter much if the obp is better
Neither is a number that would look good in the Hall; Batting average is disproportionately weighed by Hall voters but the OBP and power are definitely the more important numbers. I don’t think Dunn is remotely a Hall of Famer, but it’s important to look at numbers like this in context. Both Dunn and Tex played in high-offense eras, especially for first-base/left field types. Teixiera was a good defensive first baseman and Dunn was a bad defensive outfielder.
Dunn and Teix had basically the exact same OPS+ (Dunn 124, Tex 126), which means each was 25% better, offensively, than the average major league hitter in the era in which they played. The rest of the numbers – meh: Dunn stole twice as many bases as Tex, but both were slow. Tex was famously slow, but Dunn was kind of a slug out there too. First base defense, even good first base defense, doesn’t carry a ton of value in Hall voting – Keith hernandez, who was one of the best defensive firs baseman of all time, got almost no traction in Hall voting.
Neither would be the worst player in the Hall – that would be a few of the Frisch committee selections, and that sort of becomes the Hall of Fame problem – the worst selection becomes a benchmark, and guys like Dunn and Tex were clearly better than Jim Bottomley or whoever. I think the voters are doing better now than they ever have been.
Had to look up his stats. eliminated after year 9, when he fell below 5%
It’s been said that the two issues that hampered Keith was:
1) Public history of drug use.
2) Some also say that as a 1B, he did not display the power numbers expected of the position – Teix had more than 2 and a half as many homers. (162 to 409)
But.. he finished with career .296 BA to Teix’s .268 BA, 11 gold gloves to Teix’s 4, 384 OBP to Teix’s .360, 2x champ to Teix’s 1, 5x allstar to Teix’s 3x. and MVP award. (Teix was runner-up once? Lol)
Using Fangraphs career WAR, Keith had 59.4 to Teix’s 44.5. I like the comparison David! It was probably the drug use, and lack of 1B home run production that did him in.
Yeah, I forgot about the white powder, but I think, in general, first base is seen as a “bat-first” position and first baseman with broader skill sets, like Hernandez are overlooked because they weren’t hitting lots of home runs. This sort of doomed Gil Hodges as well, and will probably keep Mauer from anything approaching Hall status, unless he gets to 3000 hits, which is highly unlikely.
xabial are you his agent or something?
Are you Hanley Ramirez? Tell the truth
The Hall of Fame Monitor on B-R.com gives Hanley a score of 64, with 100 meaning a good chance of enshrinement. I’d say he is going to fall very short and only appears on the ballot once.
No way he’s a HOF!
Absolutely no chance at the Hall!
No!
Unless he’s about to turn back into a 5-7 win perennial player for the next 5-6 years, he has basically no chance of getting inducted.
Not to be rude but this is a joke, right? These numbers aren’t even remotely close for a guy to get elected into the HOF, unless he was a defensive wizard and even then it would probably not get him there. Carlos Lee had literally better numbers in ever category except steals and he just received 0.2% of the vote. HanRam is not even remotely in the HOF conversation.
The photo on the tweet link to this page was so savage lol
twitter.com/mlbtraderumors/status/1001960231704973…
I like it but if dd had that same face… classic
For real whoever picks the photos deserves a raise they’re hilarious
Adam Lind’s devil smile and blurry 3 armed Chris Sale are my favoirties
Go take a look on the football page & see what they did to Paul Allen!
he’s almost definitely going to be a met
Why?
They don’t need another over the hill first baseman
He cannot play short or third anymore
Maybe left? But then
If anything it’ll be someone like Miami that needs fans
Why WOUDNT the Mets be in on him? They’re the Mets! Have you been watching baseball for 5 minutes or something? They’re the lolMets for a reason.
I seriously doubt Hanley will be like yeah
I want to be a met where I will probably get zero playing time
Shoot even the Rockies could take a look at him
They still need someone to man first
Hey Low…when the Mets make their offer and everyone else shrugs, playing alongside AG and Jose Reyes will be appealing. That is until all three of them are released.
However it’s a SOLID move for they mets as he is FREE which is Fred’s favorite type of player.
The Mets will offer him a 5yr, 75M deal. He’ll take it, and spend most of it on the DL.
I don’t think you saw him in left during his first year in Boston. I like Hanley and think he’s gotten a totally unfair rap as a someone with an attitude/work ethic problem, but he was an unfathomably bad outfielder. I watch almost all of the Sox games and they’ve run a lot of terrible left fielders out there, but Nothing like him. Manny was a way better outfielder, which was not a phrase I thought I’d ever write.
When he played left field in Boston Hanley’s glove was inscribed, “who cares about defense?”
Makes a lot of sense to the White Sox once he clears waivers. At bats available and a chance to rebound and build some value to a contender at the deadline.
White Sox sign Hanley. Then trade Abreau. Works perfectly.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Abreau traded to the Cardinals
and then signing a reasonable 3 year deal to play 1B
I seriously do not understand unless he was causing problems, which may be reason the more I think of it.
I don’t think he was causing problems because he was playing. The worry is that once he is sitting, especially when he realizes his contract option isn’t going to vest, he would become a problem. In this case his previous stints haven’t helped him so the Red Sox brass had no choice but to believe he would become a liability in the clubhouse.
Meh
Money is money and he getting paid
Would you rather get paid to sit around
Or get paid to play a kids game ?
He won’t get that money for next year but he will still be playing
No matter what anyone in the Boston organization says, this move was primarily driven by that $22M vesting option. Better to cut him loose now and avoid that sideshow from developing this summer.
There should be enough of a need league wide that he catches on with someone that gives him near full time at bats.
Twins could swap him out for Grossman. Not terribly likely and there are better options out there (for Hanley playing time wise) but it’s a possibility.
Rockies
The Mets!? Miami!? You’re all crazy. He is the definition of a DH at this point in his career.
And that’s exactly why the Mets will sign him.
Don’t laugh but I can see the Rays here….they have zero power, but think they’re actually in the race (who knows, maybe they are)……he could DH there all year, keeping him off 1B, where he’s absolutely dreadful……
Hello Rangers is what Hanley is saying
You represent the Astros rather poorly.
Im hoping the White Sox take a chance with him and he hits so we can trade him in the trading deadline
The Mariners could stick Hanley in the infield.
Wouldn’t be surprised if the A’s go after him. Deadline trade bait if they fall further back.
It would be hilarious if the Giants ended up with him because Boston would be paying for two of their players lol
Does anyone understand the Rusney Castillo contract?
The Rusney Castillo contract, according to Cot’s, is for a total of 72 million (it runs through 2020). Because Rusney was outrighted off the 40-man in 2016, his salary doesn’t count against the “salary cap.” (The luxury tax threshold, technically, but it’s a salary cap). Obviously, he was able to pass through waivers because no other team would touch that contract.
Basically, as long as he’s not on the 40-man, he doesn’t count against the salary cap, because he was outrighted and no team claimed him. They could release him and still owe him the money.
Thanks, D..C..74
I would still like the Angels to take a chance. Give them someone that can fill in and start when Pujols gets hurt. Also would allow the Angels, to rest Pujols more.
Angels could use him, but they have Ohtani filling the DH role about 2/3 of the time. They’d have to use him mostly as a bench bat since the only position he can kinda play is 1B.
If the Dodgers wanted him, he could be had easily. I can’t imagine there’s any other team that Hanley Ramirez feels more comfortable playing for.
Must be nice to be a rich club and be able to eat mistakes…..
Well, a lot of teams are able to eat mistakes. The Padres are paying like 30 million dollars this season to guys playing for other teams or not at all.
Could Han Ram go back to Miami. No real pressure there
I think Jeter & Co wants to play the youth. That they aren’t interested in adding vets and potentially dealing them come trade deadline. Just my opinion.
Anybody remember Dave kingman declared a free agent and he played for about 5 or 6 teams that would sign him and then cut him loose after a few weeks? (1977).
Manny might get signed and then passed around like an old deck of cards.
Hanley* he’d appreciate the mistake though.
I remember Kingman! I saw him strikeout 5 times in a game against the Cards back in the day! The last time he was so mad, he chucked his bat against the wall . LoL
I am a huge Sox fan and think we made a mistake letting him go. He is a beast in post season. I can see Hanley signing with the Yankees to DH…. put him in that lineup with Stanton, judge, Sanchez is a scary thought. This guy rakes in the post season and down the stretch of September. This could really hurt the Sox if he lands there…..
Would the Yanks let Hanley play for them without a haircut ? (Remember, e.g., Johnny Damon, etc.)
Hey AJAG-for the record Damon cut his hair as soon as the ink was dry on his contract. Not sure what you were thinking.
Even Don Mattingly cut his hair when the boss reminded him of the policy.
BTW-they don’t need Hanley and would NEVER sign this malcontent.
HanRam’s biggest value is to a team with nothing to lose. He’s probably not going to a sure-fire contender like the Yankees, Astros, Indians, etc. At best he could end up with a team that’s close or struggling to maintain.
More likely though he goes to a middling or outright terrible team who wants to capitalize on a hitter trying to prove to the world he still has value.
Guys yanks are right handed heavy already….don’t see them going there
Hanley is going to catch fire wherever he lands. When he’s motivated, he’s one of the most dangerous guys out there.
WAS
Agreed.
This picture is excellently relevant!
The Twins could use his bat, but once Mauer is activated from the DL that would give them 3 1B/DH (includes Morrison), so I’d be surprised if they made a play. White Sox make sense, but TOR makes the most sense as long as they are willing to DFA Kendrys Morales.
I’ll take him on the Yankees for league min and replace Tyler Austin.
Please explain to Yankeeland why you would post something like this…
The guy kills lefty pitchers, Tyler Austin sucks.. Hanley might also get motivated to want to beat the red sox and again he will be making LEAGUE MIN
I am in no way the biggest fan of Austin, but the reasons for not signing Hanley are multiple. Hanley is self entitled, doesn’t hustle, is moody, and would tear down the team chemistry the Yankees have built, just to name a few reasons. Austin actually has been better overall, is more versatile, and is a homegrown product. There is just no way the Yankees would ever sign Hanley, not even at league minimum…Thank God,
You do realize Austin has struck out in almost 50% of his atbats..
Don’t get my wrong, I hate Hanley Ramirez. But i would put up with it for acouple months if it means him helping the team win.
Also if the team chemistry would be torn down because of ONE player, then there aint much team chemistry.
Also Hanley has very good postseason numbers
I think HOU or COL will make a play for Hanley Ramirez.
Colorado maybe. Why in the world would Houston?
I think there will be more demand for Hanley Ramirez than the general census assumes. There are more teams but these two seem as fits:
The Astros offense is in a funk. A) Low cost; low risk. B) Astros offense needs a small tweak, not a major one. C) Slight improvement over Evan Gattis..
I’m assuming that the Rox are in a “win now” situation and Ian Desmond and Ryan McMahon are not hitting well (even at Coors) Colorado may revive his offense.
LOVE THE PICTURE! Appropriate for the times
I would guess he will become a Met as they are loading up on guys that we’re good 5 years ago.
The only question is which AL team will take a flyer on him to be a DH/1b? Twins? Tigers? Blue Jays? Royals?
The Royals already have Soler and Bonifacio coming off suspension this month. Dozier is playing 1st base until Duda gets back….I dont see a fit in KC.
Tigers already have two players that fit that description…. I bet he ends up in Toronto
When he’s a FA, Hanley Ramirez has a say too.
Hanley as a Yankee, no way. Bird and Austin have it covered. Hanley could DH for any of the bad teams not competing and be better than what they have or a PH in the National League if he doesn’t mind not playing every day.
The Red Sox had to get Moreland more playing time even if he isn’t hitting because he’s an unbelievable defender and we need that with Devers at 3B. I’ve been complaining about this guys glove and lack of discipline at the plate and how they brought him up too soon. He needs a year in AAA to learn 1B. He can’t throw. He has limited range. His body type makes him a Fielder family relative. Somewhere along the line he must have had soft hands to play 3B so see if he can play 1B, otherwise, the treasured prospect is a DH his entire career. We need a 3B who can field and hit for average so he is not too expensive.. The answer – Eugenio Suarez. Low salary fits great and Cincinnati is rebuilding so they might want an over weight 3B who swings for the fences on every pitch and has the batting eye of Baez!! Straight up Suarez for Devers. I’d do it in a heart beat and the Red Sox get better defensively, offensively and have a more mature player for the playoffs. Dave … I hope you or your staff read this!!!
Honestly, I’d do it. Sure, Devers is younger and will be cheaper through arbitration for the next six years. However, Suarez is on a contract for the next six years as well. Suarez is more expensive but he’s a known quantity that can field 3B.
And the Reds aren’t trading him. Plus he’s better then Devers who is the next Panda.
Thinking Devers is the next Panda is one on the stupidest things I’ve ever read on here. Delete you a account “thegreatcerealfamine” this is not the place for such stupidity.
Hard to see it working as a 1 for 1 deal considering Devers’ noted lack of upside, especially to an NL club. Maybe add Swihart as a utility dude and platoon with Barnhart. And they can have a Hart2Hart podcast.
This isn’t the first time BOS has waived a good hitting Ramirez with a lucrative contract. Remember from 2003:
The Boston Red Sox placed outfielder Manny Ramirez on irrevocable waivers yesterday, and they are hoping that another team will claim him and enable them to shed the five years and $104 million remaining on his eight-year, $160 million contract, two major league executives said.
If a team claims Ramirez before the deadline tomorrow, it will become responsible for Ramirez’s contract, and Ramirez’s often turbulent three-year association with the Red Sox will end. Unlike with revocable waivers, Boston cannot pull back Ramirez if he is claimed. If no team claims Ramirez, the Red Sox will retain him but will have at least alerted other clubs that they are willing to trade him.
”It’s a weird thing, to be honest with you,” said one of the executives, both of whom spoke on condition of anonymity. ”I don’t know what they’re thinking, other than they want to get out from under that contract.”