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Phillies know shortstop Hanley Ramirez all too well. For years as a member of the Florida/Miami Marlins, Ramirez was one of the Phillies' biggest foes. Ramirez spent the latter part of 2012 as well as 2013 and 2014 with the Los Angeles Dodgers before heading into free agency this winter. In a move that will have a trickle-down effect with the Phillies, Ramirez is returning to his original organization, the Boston Red Sox.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports:
Source: Hanley Ramirez headed to Boston tomorrow to finalize deal with #RedSox.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 24, 2014
Sources say Hanley’s deal with #RedSox will be in range of five years, $90M.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 24, 2014
Coincidentally (or not) the deal is for five years and $90 million, just what free agent third baseman Pablo Sandoval was looking at.
However, the Red Sox are reportedly still in on Sandoval, says CBS Sports' Jon Heyman. And, it could affect the Phillies. Rosenthal considered the possibility earlier that the Red Sox could have a trade with the Phillies in mind:
The Red Sox want Ramirez to play shortstop. Not out of the question, but club officials seemingly are committed to Xander Bogaerts at the position.
The Red Sox could trade Bogaerts, possibly for a starting pitcher such as Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels. But Ramirez no longer is an adequate defender at short. Bogaerts is the better and cheaper option
Would the Red Sox put Ramirez at short? They may be willing. Ramirez played exclusively at shortstop in 2013 but his diminished skills had Ramirez marketing himself as a potential third baseman or left fielder. The Red Sox may have had to promise Ramirez shortstop in order to sign him.
Ramirez could play third base…if Sandoval is not going to be there. If Sandoval signs with the Red Sox, the glut of outfielders would keep Ramirez out of the outfield. As it stands now, the Red Sox have an outfield of Yoenis Cespedes, Jackie Bradley, Jr., Rusney Castillo, Allen Craig, Shane Victorino, and Daniel Nava – even before you factor in top prospect Mookie Betts. Even with just that list, someone has to be moved.
Bogaerts would be the piece that would make the Phillies do a deal for Hamels. As our fellow writer Rich wrote earlier today, he would "run away from any deal" concerning Bogaerts due to the Phillies' busy left side of the infield. But, the Phillies could clear first base for Maikel Franco and move Cody Asche to left field as they have discussed in the past to make room for Bogaerts. Bogaerts has been long coveted by many organizations.
Bogaerts is good, but the Red Sox may be going for the win in 2014, and the immediate (though not long-term) upgrade would be Ramirez. Hamels would help anchor the Sox pitching staff. If the Red Sox could land both Sandoval and Hamels, the American League East could be theirs.
