37-year-old Hanley Ramirez has reported to los Tigres de Licey in the Dominican Winter League, as announced by the team on Twitter. This will be his first competitive action since playing for the same club in the winter of 2019-20.
Ramirez, who turns 38 in December, has played for los Tigres sporadically over his career, suiting up for them in the winters of 2006-07, 2012-13, 2016-17, 2018-19 and 2019-20. The fact that he is back for another season doesn’t necessarily mean he is attempting to return to MLB, although Jon Heyman of MLB Network did use the word “comeback” on Twitter. However, the timing is interesting, given that it is widely expected that this winter’s collective bargaining will result in all 30 teams being able to implement a designated hitter next season. Since he has been primarily a designated hitter or first baseman since 2016, that would increase the odds of Ramirez finding some playing time, if he’s healthy enough to contribute with his bat.
That’s a big if, though, given that shoulder injuries derailed his last attempt at playing in the big leagues. Ramirez was released by the Red Sox June 1st, 2018, the last guaranteed season of the four-year, $88MM contract that he signed prior to the 2015 campaign. He didn’t latch on with another club for the rest of that year and later revealed that he turned down offers in order to try to get back to full health. He then signed a minor league deal with Cleveland in February of 2019 and was later selected to their opening day roster. Through 16 games, he was hitting .184/.298/.327, when he was designated for assignment by the club. In July of that year, he underwent shoulder surgery with the hopes of coming back for the 2020 season. It was a few months later, in November of 2019, that Hanley joined los Tigres, getting into 13 games and hitting .273/.298/.418.
Ramirez had an incredible run in the big leagues from 2006 to 2014, playing 1,221 games and hitting .300/.373/.500 in that time, producing a wRC+ of 133 and 40.6 fWAR. After that, his production fell off dramatically, although he was an above-average hitter as recently as 2016, hitting .286/.361/.505 with the Red Sox that year. If he’s managed to put his shoulder issues behind him and show any glimpses of his past performance, some team could be intrigued enough to give him a minor league deal and invite him to spring training to see if he can hit enough to fill a bench bat/designated hitter role.
Hope he gets it together and could at least get something next season to go out on a high note. His first several seasons in FL he looked like someone who could become a surefire hall of famer. Then Loria babied him and he lived in his own world combined with injuries creeping up and staying around… All lead to a ton of fun. It felt weird being a Marlins fan and actually pleased they sent him away.
If he wants to come back I hope he gets a DH spot and has some good moments and then rides off in to the sunset.
If the most recent shoulder surgery was successful, I think he’s got a good shot at a comeback. I wish him well, he was really a pleasure in his final stint with the Sox.
When i read the headline, i assumed he was returning as an instructor or something. His bat was too slow the year the Red Sox cut him. Good career though
As long as he’s enjoying the challenge, good luck to him.
Hard pass.
It’s just time to hang up the old cleats.
He had a good run and he’s in my “Hall Of Good” but he needs to retire because he swings too late and that won’t change at 37.
Where’s Edwin Encarnacion?
selling hotdog in the Dominicana
selling hotdog in the Dominicana.
When he was with the Dodgers one of the worst fielding shortstops I ever saw. Complete embarrassment.
Boo. You must be great at parties.
He is telling the truth. He did not belong anywhere near SS. The Marlins should have started moving him around the diamond years before. Who knows he might have turned into a serviceable OF like Ian Desmond. The Red Sox giving him that contract and expecting him to switch positions and instantly hold down LF was almost as bad as giving Sandoval his without the weight clauses the Giants had in theirs.
That being said everytime I hear of a former star MI making a comeback after being away so long I think of Ryan Sandberg’s return. He hasn’t seen MLB pitching in years and he had lost a ton of bat speed the last time he did. Minors contract with no pressure would be the best thing for him.
I knew the Florida Marlins should have moved him to the outfield. If the Marlins was in the central division in the early 2000s they would have been a dynasty with Carl Pavno , AJ Burnett , Hanley, Dereck Lee, Miguel Cabrera, Mike Lowell, Dontrell Willis smh. They were in the division with the braves and Mets
Doubt they would have become a dynasty since they couldn’t afford the payroll.
Dynasty? Maybe a TV show if they had some old hags running the clubhouse. On the field? No.
Hall of Very Good at the very least
Hall of Outstanding
Hall of almost.
Mets will sign him next year.
Just had brunch with Ferris, who is at the Sox Tigres game to check in on his life pal Cameron. He rates Hanley “Hall of Choice.”