Could Atlanta Braves add Hanley Ramirez
By Fred Owens
This morning Boston stunned the baseball community by designating Hanley Ramirez for assignment. The Atlanta Braves might solve their third base issue by signing him.
Around 11 a.m. eastern this morning, Boston Globe sport writer Alex Speier reported that the Red Sox were designating Hanley Ramirez for assignment.
Jayson Stark, Mark DeRosa, Ryan Dempster and John Smoltz heard the news live on MLB Central and were speechless. None had any immediate idea of a landing sport for Ramirez, but he might be a short-term answer at third for the Atlanta Braves
DFA’d for dollars not production
The Red Sox dumped Ramirez for two reasons.
- It allows them to reinstate Dustin Pedroia from the DL and keep Blake Swihart around
- It eliminates the possibility his $22M option for 2019 will vest
Had Ramirez been on a tear with the bat they might have kept him but the specter of that vesting option and his recent problems at the plate made this a good time to DFA him.
Ramirez slumped (0 for 20) in his last five games. Prior to that however he hit .287/.345/.446/.791, with a .343 wOBA and 113 wRC+. He’s hit the ball to all fields, struck out below league average (17.2%), took his walks (7.5%) and hits the ball hard.
Statcast via Baseball Savant shows the only Braves with more barrels per PA and barrels per ball in play are Freddie Freeman, Ronald Acuna and Ozzie Albies.
Another Savant search shows his line based on contact including the five game slump projects to be .269/.345/.454/.799 instead of the .254/.313/.395/.709 actually delivered.
Ramirez can still play
On MLB Central this morning, Red Sox beat writer Nick Cafardo said he was surprised about the DFA. He noted the Ramirez has always been prone to slumps but is still a right handed power hitter to be reckoned with.
Mitch Moreland is a better defender at first base than Ramirez and moving Hanley allows the Sox to play him more often and use J D Martinez there against lefties.
Originally brought over with the ill-conceived idea of playing him in left while Pablo Sandoval played third, Ramirez was never good in left or tried at third.