The Tampa Bay Rays’ after-Christmas sale may not be over just yet.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported Monday that the Rays are shopping a notable name on the trade market — designated hitter Harold Ramirez. The 29-year-old Ramirez has two years of club control remaining and is projected to make $4.4 million in arbitration next season, Rosenthal adds.
Ramirez is one of the top bats in the Tampa Bay lineup, finishing second on the team last season with a .313 batting average. Overall, he produced 12 home runs and 68 RBIs over 122 appearances for the 99-win Rays.
Tampa Bay has been doing some trimming this offseason though, sending out two veterans, outfielder Luke Raley and reliever Andrew Kittredge, in separate trades earlier this month. There was also the blockbuster deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this winter where the Rays shed even more veteran talent.
Rosenthal notes that trading Ramirez would create more at-bats for younger players like Jonathan Aranda and Curtis Mead. Along with Ramirez, there have been rumors that the Rays could move an even bigger offensive name on the roster too.
