clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Hanley Ramirez signs four-year deal with Red Sox

The 30-year-old shortstop will head to Boston after three seasons in Los Angeles.

Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, shortstop Hanley Ramirez has agreed to sign with the Boston Red Sox. The deal is said to be worth $88 million over four years plus a vesting fifth-year option worth $22 million.

Known for being the centerpiece in the Red Sox-Marlins blockbuster that sent Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to Boston, Ramirez burst onto the scene with a Rookie of the Year campaign in 2006 for the Florida Marlins. He would follow that up with three more All-Star seasons before getting traded to the Dodgers as part of Jeffrey Loria's infamous fire sale in 2012. He's struggled to stay on the field since but has remained a key part in the middle of the Los Angeles lineup when healthy, as evidenced by his .299/.368/.506 line over three seasons with the team.

A career .300/.373/.500 hitter, Ramirez will bring instant offense to the Red Sox lineup. Despite his suspect defense, Ramirez's impact bat should more than make up for that, especially in an offense-thin free agent market. If the Red Sox play Ramirez at short, incumbent Xander Bogearts may be on the trading block soon.

Ramirez rejected a qualifying offer from the Dodgers earlier in the offseason, which mean L.A. will obtain a sandwich pick at the end of the first round of the 2015 draft. The Red Sox will lose their second-round pick, as their top pick (No. 7 overall) is protected.