Hanley Ramirez won a batting title not long ago and was one of the top players in baseball. Since then, his play has dropped off and he’s had poor production.
The Marlins reportedly are willing to trade him, and they want players in return rather than just a team willing to take on the $31.5 million he’s over for the next two seasons.
Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald reports that the asking price for Ramirez “is not ridiculous.” He says the A’s and Red Sox (which traded him to the Marlins in 2005) are interested. USA Today says the Blue Jays are also interested.
The Marlins got more than their money’s worth out of Hanley considering his most productive seasons from 2007-2009 came at a price of less than $7 million. They had no way of knowing he would fall off and become average after signing a five-year $70 million deal in 2008.
Ramirez seems to be maturing after being a clubhouse problem as recently as last year, but if I were the Marlins, I wouldn’t hesitate to trade him. I have serious doubts that he’ll be worth the salary he’s scheduled to earn over the next two seasons, regardless of what team he’s playing for.
It also looks like Hanley’s wish to become the new “Mr. Marlin” won’t come true.
