The Boston Red Sox are trying to trade Hanley Ramirez, according to a report.
The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafordo wrote in his Sunday column that there’s talk in the Red Sox front office that the team wants to move Ramirez. He mentions the Mariners, Angels and Orioles as all potential targets for a trade.
Two potential issues to overcome with a deal involving Ramirez concern his contract and position. Ramirez played shortstop early in his career and was moved to left field by the Red Sox, but he was pretty brutal out there. Another AL team might want to switch him to DH, which would limit his appeal. The other issue is that he is owed $68 million (his contract calls for him to be paid $22 million in each of the next three seasons, plus he has a vesting option for 2019).
The Red Sox would likely have to eat a big portion of Ramirez’s contract for another team to pay it.
Ramirez, 31, had a down season and batted just .249 with a .717 OPS. He is a career .300 hitter with an .873 OPS, so teams should figure he will turn it around. Another issue with Ramirez is his attitude, which reportedly was a problem on the Red Sox last season.
