Before you shoot the messenger hear me out and at least consider Hanley Ramirez as your shortstop for the 2015 season. The New York Yankees will have Alex Rodriguez back in 2015 in one way or another and whether you like it or not so in some capacity the third base position seems to be taken but could Hanley handle the shortstop position one more season before making a move to third base in 2016? I say why not.
Sure the defense would have to deal with the inconsistencies on the defensive side of the ball but I believe Ramirez could more than make up for that with his bat. Ramirez is the type of bat the Yankees could put in the middle of that lineup and one that would make a difference. Hanley could then move to third base in 2016 where he would finish out the remainder of his contract, whatever the length may be.
Imagine this lineup with Ramirez in the middle of it. With him there I truly think, considering that Beltran will be better after the surgery, Teixeira will be better after a "normal" offseason, and McCann will be better after he adjusts to New York, this is your best lineup in all of Major League Baseball:
1. Jacoby Ellsbury
2. Martin Prado
3. Brett Gardner
4. Hanley Ramirez
5. Brian McCann
6. Carlos Beltran
7. Mark Teixeira
8. Alex Rodriguez
9. Whoever DH's or Chase Headley if he plays third and A Rod plays as the DH
I wouldn't be horribly upset by a Ramirez signing. He definitely has a positive upside with his bat, but I think the negatives outweigh the positives. He has consistent health issues, wants a big contract, and is on the wrong side of thirty. I am actually getting tired of seeing the Yankees give long term contracts to people that are at the tail end of their prime.
ReplyDeleteHe is on the wrong side of 30 but not by much, without looking he is only 31 right?
ReplyDeleteAlso I don't see an issue with a contract for five years or under since in two years Beltran and A Rod will be gone and we can hide him at DH.
Very good points, and yes, 31 years old. My only other issue, and this goes for Hardy as well, both are certain to get a qualifying offer. I would hate to lose the 19th pick. If you take that, and the one we could potentially get for Robertson, we could have some pretty good picks and end up with a potential draft class as good as 2013 was.
ReplyDeleteHanley, in my opinion, is worth losing a pick for. If the team wasn't in such dire need for power and offense I would agree with you, I am the biggest prospect humper on the site by a lot, but THIS team needs Hanley.
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