Dave Dombrowski Says Hanley Move Was Alex Cora’s Call
Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski may have made the final call on Hanley Ramirez.
But Dombrowski says that the idea was actually brought to him by Red Sox manager Alex Cora.
“We were prepared to maybe go in a different direction with our move,” Dombrowski admitted speaking to reporters before Friday’s game against the Braves. “[Cora] called me around 11:30 in the morning [on Thursday], and Alex goes, ‘I’ve got a thought for you about what we’re doing,’ and he said, ‘This is a move I would like to make.'”
According to Dombrowski, Cora’s belief that cutting ties with the 34-year-old Ramirez came back to the point that he wanted to play Mitch Moreland more, and that he didn’t Ramirez as long for a bench role given his status as an established slugger.
That decision comes in the midst of a massive cold streak for Ramirez, who was designated for assignment in the midst of an 0-for-22 slump, while Moreland continues to hit, with seven homers and a .311 average in 34 games this season.
“[Cora] said, ‘I really want to play Mitch Moreland more. He’s a good player. He’s played very well for us. I don’t think Hanley is a person that [handles sitting on the bench] well. It gives us an opportunity to keep Blake Swihart and be in a position for Blake to get more playing time,’” Dombrowski offered to the media. “So [Cora] said, ‘This is something I recommend us doing.’ I said ‘You sure?’ He said yep, and he went through some different reasons behind it.”
Dombrowski said that Cora then met with his coaching staff before the final decision was made.
Dustin Pedroia, activated on Friday after going 1-for-14 in a five-game rehab stint with Triple-A Pawtucket in his comeback from offseason knee surgery, will take No. 13’s spot on Boston’s 25-man roster.
The Red Sox will have seven days to trade or release Ramirez, who is still owed over $15 million this season.
