A’s Interested in Hanley Ramirez
Yesterday the rumor mill discussed the A’s being interested in Chase Headley to improve the left side of their infield. Today, the discussion is that the A’s are going after Miami’s Hanley Ramirez. Ramirez who is going to be paid a whopping $15.5M next year and $16M the following in 2014, is hitting .246/.322/.430 with a .330 wOBA and 104 wRC+. Those numbers are not the numbers you want from someone being paid $15M this season. The Marlins, historically a franchise selling off assets as salary dumps, would seemingly be required to pay part of his salary to make any deal, particularly one with Oakland.
The A’s production from the left side of the infield has been atrocious. Third basemen have hit .184/.230/.333 but I imagine that Ramirez would slot in at shortstop where the A’s have received a .184/.244/.273 slash line primarily from Cliff Pennington now on the disabled list with what is being called “left elbow tendinitis”. The A’s, if they do actively pursue HanRam, should be able to get him for less than Headley as the terms of his contract aren’t near as friendly. But Ramirez has seen declining production for two straight years. Last year he was a 1.3 WAR player in 385 plate appearances, and while this year he has played in a similar 391 plate appearances he is just a 1.4 WAR player now. A far cry from the Ramirez who in 2008 and 2009 had back to back 7.5 WAR and 7.4 WAR seasons. To imagine that Ramirez can again somehow become those players is in my mind faulty thinking, especially if he goes to a pitcher’s park like Oakland. This is one move I hope Billy Beane does not make.
I wouldn’t mind Hanley the player; it depends on the price tag. If the asking price is closer to that of Yunel Escobar than that of Chase Headley, sign me up. Otherwise, Hanley Ramirez is the type of player that’s worth more in fantasy baseball than in real life. Chase Headley is the exact opposite; he’s worth more in real life. In any case, it’s always about the price tag. A. J. Griffin for Hanley and most of the rest of his 2012 salary paid? Sounds good. Straily? Bug off, Marlins.
Obviously everything depends on the price tag. I mean if the Marlins say hey we will pay $25M of what remains and we just want Tyson Ross in return, sign me up! But I just see him having a lot of trouble living up to his contract the next two years so that if we are paying a lot of it, it almost doesn’t matter what we have to give up to get him, it isn’t worth it. Even if we are giving like AAA filler like Bruce Billings for Ramirez straight up. That said, Headley’s contract is going to be infinitely more favorable as he goes through his arbitration years. I am willing to give up more to get him though I have never mentioned Straily as someone to deal.
Writing shows a bit of a tough edge DW. Generally remember that we could have an outfield of ConJack (AAA), Sweeney and DeJesus..look on the bright side! I however agree with the comments about HanRam…NO WAY…negative attitude with the “younger version of Alfonso Soriano now tag”. no exact position . I say go for Yunel Escobar also because it may be a bonus that he is Cuban for “Si Cespedes”
Nice blog dude. Really agree with you on HamRam, but I would love to see Headley playing 3rd batting 2. Put weeks 9th and that’s a real nice 9 through 5 lineup… little help from moss and Carter, boom, in the world series! Too soon? Ramirez is often lazy and isn’t well liked in his own clubhouse, not the kind of guy to bring into a young impressionable clubhouse. HAve fun with that LA
Exactly my thinking. Really would like to see Headley somehow on this team. Worth the cost in prospects to get him for his prime at a reasonable rate.