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The Red Sox were forced to make a roster move with Dustin Pedroia getting activated from the disabled list on Friday, but all of the speculation leading up to it had the club either trading or designating third catcher Blake Swihart for assignment instead.
The 34-year-old Ramirez was in the final season of his four-year $88 million contract with the Red Sox that he signed prior to the 2015 season. That deal also included a $22 million vesting option should Ramirez reach 497 plate appearances this season. He had already logged 195 plate appearances in his first 44 games and was well on his way to making sure that option vested.
While the financial implications look on the surface to be a factor in the decision, Red Sox’ president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski ensured reporters on Friday that this was purely a baseball move. "It was a baseball-related move for us… we've been looking at making a move because we knew that this day with Dustin would come, where he'd be coming back, probably since February, since Spring Training. We talked about different possibilities when somebody would be ready, when they won't be ready. We talked about all type of possibilities. So for us it really was a baseball move, one that I talked to Alex about yesterday. We were prepared to maybe go in a different direction with our move. He called me, was about 11:30 in the morning, I was getting ready to go for a run. And Alex says, 'I've got a thought for you with what we're doing. And he said that this was a move that I would like to make. I recommend making it.'
Dombrowski elaborated, "It comes down to my final decision, but [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 that Hanley is a person that sits idling on the bench well. It gives us an opportunity to keep Blake Swihart. Also we'll be in a position to give Blake some more playing time.' So he said this is something I'd recommend us doing. And I said, 'You sure?' And he said, 'Yeah.' And he went through some different reasons behind it from his thought process. And what I asked him to do at that point was to make sure that he went to the ballpark, because he gets there earlier than me, meet with his coaching staff, and be in a position where that's what he really wanted to do. And when I got to the ballpark yesterday, Frank [Wren, senior VP/player personnel] and I drove over and I said, 'This is what we would like to do. So we're proceeding in that direction."
As Dombrowski and Cora intend, Mitch Moreland will take over as the club’s everyday first baseman and is immediately worthy of an addition in any mixed leagues where he may be available. The 32-year-old Moreland has been terrific through 118 plate appearances on the year, slashing .311/.390/.612 with seven homers and 22 RBI. At a minimum, he should play on the strong side of a platoon at first base, with upside for even more playing time. Blake Swihart could spell him on occasion against left-handers.
While Ramirez had been in a slump at the plate, going 0-for-20 over his last five games, but was still hitting .254/.313/.395 with six homers, 29 RBI and four stolen bases on the season. It’s hard to envision him being out of work for long, though his best outlook for playing time would come as a designated hitter in the American League. The move out of the potent Red Sox’ lineup and away from hitter-friendly Fenway Park will also bite into his fantasy production once he lands on his feet elsewhere.
