1:20pm: The Indians have announced that Ramirez is officially a free agent.
1:00pm: Hanley Ramirez has elected free agency after declining an outright assignment from the Indians, as indicated on the Triple-A International League transactions log. He’ll presumably venture out into the open market in search of a new opportunity.
The 35-year-old Ramirez signed a minor league contract with Cleveland over the winter and broke camp as the club’s primary designated hitter, but he batted just .184/.298/.327 with two homers and 17 strikeouts in 57 plate appearances in his short stint there. That minor league deal came roughly nine months after being released by the Red Sox last June, though Ramirez told The Athletic’s Zack Meisel back in February that he turned away offers from clubs following last year’s release so that he could “get my body healthy and come back next year.”
It’s fair to question what Ramirez has left in the tank. He hasn’t been a decidedly above-average bat since the 2016 season, and while this year’s 57 plate appearances are too small a sample from which to glean anything meaningful, the former NL Rookie of the Year and batting champion has managed a paltry .241/.317/.414 batting line through 805 PAs dating back to the 2017 season. While that output is only about eight percent worse than league average by measure of park- and league-adjusted stats like OPS+ and wRC+, a player with Ramirez’s lack of defensive value has a much higher bar to clear when determining what’s an acceptable level of offensive performance.
Ramirez was a pure designated hitter with Cleveland this season, so it’s doubtful that he’ll generate much, if any, interest from National League clubs. There may very well be some American League organizations that take a speculative look at the former Marlins/Dodgers star, but it stands to reason that Ramirez would need to work his way back to the big leagues on a minor league deal.
I’m still not over the error he made that cost Kershaw a perfect game.
Unless you’re actually Kershaw, you should get over it.
That is on Mattingly. The Dodgers had an 8-run lead with defensive options on the bench. Mattingly is a terrible manager. Anyone with any sense at all would have replaced a defensive liability like Ramirez in that situation. I am just happy he is no longer managing the Dodgers.
Chill
He’s not wrong. As a giants fan though, I’m a huge Mattingly fan ;)
Me either.
Washed up. Retire.
Orioles or Marlins. If not then he’s done.
The Marlins? So as a pure pinch hitter, since he really has no business in the field?
That’s a no for the O’s. Why add another non hitting DH when we already have Davis and Trumbo to come back soon?
Skeeters.
NL needs DH, like Nascar needs Dale Jr.. #facts
The DH is for mindless fans. Like those who post hashtags.
And watch Nascar
“I gotta be honest with you… driving 500 miles in a circle does not impress me!” — George Carlin
This comment speaks more about you then it does AL fans.
Ohhhhh here we go with all the bully dummies that get their rocks off being the big tough guys on the internet.. I don’t watch Nascar but do follow all sports news and it’s a dying sport.
I do stick up for the aging baseball players towards the twilights of their career that lose half of their demand due to one league living in the stone age..
Ooooo mr I’m all about the strategies, double switches, bunting, blah blah blah… Its boring and watching the Braves play the Indians Sunday nite was so damn refreshing that the lineup could just keep looping instead of realizing the dreaded 7,8,9 is coming up to kill rallies..
Alright, I’ll let you bad boys get back to your GTL..
Wow someone needs a hug.
As much as u need a hit from the oney ol Bobby boy!
Here’s the thing… it’s not just one league that uses the DH. It is literally every other league except the National league. Every other league that plays baseball seriously uses the DH. I won’t list them. It’s every one you can name.
I don’t care if you don’t like the DH. I couldn’t care less. All I’m saying is dismissing the majority (vast) of baseball fans world wide says more about you then them. And very little about the fans of every other league. Very, very little.
Don’t remember discussing NASCAR.
Watching NASCAR, chiding anonymous entities on the internet, and being a self appointed rules God. Dude you got some issues to work out!
Ok, feel like I’m repeating myself again and i will say it one more time, “I don’t watch Nascar..” But, I do follow all sports’ news and I recommend you give it a try.
It’s pretty common knowledge that he was the MJ of the sport but who cares at this point; I’m over It. Was just simply stating an analogy and here come the haters out of the wood work. You know what they say and im guilty of it as well “opinions are like an “exit” hole, everybody has one..”
Happy spring, cheer up!
Obviously you care enough to respond and im not dismissing ANYBODY so quit painting your make-believe picture as such. You trying to make me out as alienating people is absurd yet alone; ridiculous. I’ve played this sport for 30 years and absolutely breathe it. The DH in both leagues topic is open for discussion as is the computer-generated balls and strikes so get over it and try to converse like an adult.
Zack Wheeler hit a home run last night. What did Hanley do?
Nothing is more fun than seeing a pitcher kill a ralley
Unless he gets a hit
Never really won much, lived off his Dad
No they don’t. Theirs no strategy with a dh. No more double switches. It would be dumb for NL for the NL to have a DH
/stroke reading this
Phillies bench is pathetic. It’s full of guys who are hitting below .100.. If Hanley is willing to take a small contract, I think it’s a low risk/medium reward type of deal.
please no.
yeah no. they have at least a half dozen better options at this point, and could have gotten Miller if they really wanted another bat.
agreed, but altherr and nick williams are useless with the bat. knapp is as well, but at least he’s a catcher.
Jump on this Cubs! Have to improve the bullpen somehow!
how is Hanley going to improve the bullpen?
I know you’re making a dumb joke, but the Cubs bullpen has actually been pretty good since they sent Carl Jr. down.
I think there’s a chance he could still hit if given the opportunity. But at this point idk that he’ll get one. And I’m also not sure he’d take a bench/very limited role (even though if he wants to keep playing he probably should) I however wouldn’t be shocked if he pulled a Manny Ramirez and went to play in Japan/Korea/Taiwan — especially Taiwan like Manny did – where he could be a ‘mega-star’ even if only for a few months. It’s no secret Hanley is a bit of an odd duck… but I do like the guy and hope he gets another shot of some sort — but given his apparent attitude issues (mostly basing this off his time with the Red Sox) I’m not sure he’ll really be able to get any decent opportunities – but hey who knows!?
As a Tribe fan who suffered through watching him try to hit……he’s toast.
Hanley is one on a long list of players who were judged to have an “attitude problem” when they played in Boston, but this “attitude” issue wasn’t manifested anywhere else they played. What’s that all about, I wonder, the hyperventilating local sports media?
As for Hanley, even in his prime years with the Dodgers he was in obvious physical pain a lot of the time. He’s pretty young to be that beat up, but everybody’s different,
I think he should’ve taken the trip to AAA Columbus to see if his hitting picks up and hope for that recall to Cleveland.
I smell Yankees all over this
I bet that smells gross.
I’m not sure they’d take him, he’s not injured.
His only decent year with the Sox just happened to coincide with a PED suspension. He’s done if he’s clean. If he’s mashing, he’s a suspension waiting to happen.
More like “Free Agency Elects Hanley Ramirez”
Put a fork in him!
I don’t think Hanley Ramirez can improve any team in MLB. He doesn’t play a position anymore and he’s the worst offensive DH in the AL.
End the DH.
Agree, dump the DH. It’s compromising the game. Bring back the double switch, sacrifice bunt & suicide squeeze. Make the managers-well manage. And while we’re at it, get rid of aluminum bats. Should be wood at every level just like MLB.
Let’s get rid of interleague too while we’re at it. Go watch the nfl if you want to see guys only play half the game.