Editorials

Hanley Ramirez Tweets He Hopes To Remain With Dodgers

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With the Los Angeles Dodgers no longer in the playoffs, the organization’s focus now shifts to making roster decisions and perhaps on a change in the front office as well.

Dating back to last season, plenty of attention has been placed on Hanley Ramirez’s free agency. The shortstop was a key factor in the Dodgers’ turnaround and NL West title in 2013, but struggled to remain heathy this year and it impacted his production.

As he prepares for free agency, Ramirez posted a photo Thursday of himself boarding a plane bound for Miami while also professing his love for Los Angeles:

While Ramirez called Miami home, he also mentioned he hopes to remain with the Dodgers:

The Dodgers and Ramirez agreed to put off contract talks during the season given that the 30-year-old was in and out of the lineup. Ramirez finished the season hitting .283 with 13 home runs and 71 RBIs. However, he saw a steep decline in slugging percentage as it dropped to .488
from .638 the year before.

Ramirez picked up some steam in the NLDS as he finished batting .429 (6-for-14), but had just one extra-base hit and one RBI.

Although it may be what he desires, the likelihood of the Dodgers offering Ramirez a long-term contract doesn’t appear high. They could offer the shortstop a one-year qualifying offer, which if Ramirez were to reject and sign elsewhere, it would net the Dodgers a draft pick.

One option for the team may signing Ramirez to a shorter deal, but high in annual salary. However, what may make that difficult is the small market of available shortstops. The Baltimore Orioles took one name off that list when they re-signed J.J. Hardy, a career .261 hitter, to a three-year, $40 million extension.

The high annual salary approach is one general manager Ned Colletti took when he re-signed Manny Ramirez, but whether or not Colletti would be the GM signing off on a contract for Hanley is unknown at this point.

One Comment

  1. Someone’s gonna offer him 3 yrs so LA has a shot to resign him. His lack of a good season & injury’s are a concern but Rojas can’t hit a lick.

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