Red Sox Officially Release Hanley Ramirez
The Red Sox have officially released first baseman/designated hitter Hanley Ramirez, the team announced Friday.
Placed on waivers, the seven-day window to trade Hanley Ramirez came without a resolution for the 34-year-old bat, leaving the Red Sox out of options. Ramirez’ contract situation, which came with a $22 million vesting option for 2019 if he reached a more-than-manageable plate appearance milestone this season, didn’t help Boston’s pursuit to find a taker for No. 13.
This means that the Red Sox will have to completely eat the remaining balance of Hanley’s 2018 salary (over $15 million), and that Ramirez is now free to sign with any team for the prorated league minimum.
While Ramirez is hitting .254 with six home runs and 29 RBIs this season, there’s obvious value in what he can bring to a team as a right-handed power bat, with 59 homers since the start of the 2016 season. Ramirez also hit a staggering .571 in the postseason last season, and is a .380 hitter with one homer and 14 RBIs in 20 career playoff games.
The Red Sox have survived Ramirez’ departure for the time being, though, with a 5-2 record since placing on Ramirez on waivers, and with a .320 batting average along with three homers and seven RBIs from the DH spot over that span.
