Al Yellon
Editor
It's Gotta Be The Hair - May 15
Grant Brisbee
Editor
Tarasco Sauce - May 16
Jeff Sullivan
Editor
Mission Accomplished - May 16
Rob Neyer
National Baseball Editor
Baseball is Unpredictable - May 12
Dan Moore
Contributor
Joey Votto And The Twilight Of The Giant First Basemen - Apr 14
Jason Brannon
Hot Corner Scribe
Len Kasper Has Been Over Into The Future... - May 15
Jim Baker
Contributor
eBay Item Of The Day - May 15
Marc Normandin
Contributor
The Royals And Pitcher Development - May 15
Wendy Thurm
Contributor
On Being Young And Brash In The Social Media Age - May 12
SB Nation 2011-2012 MLB Free Agents
The Miami Marlins are reportedly hot for José Reyes, which is fantastic except for the Marlins already having a pretty good shortstop who's under contract through 2014. And maybe he doesn't wanna move.
Nov 15, 2011 - So in case you haven't heard, the Miami Marlins have new uniforms and they seem to be really interested in a new shortstop: José Reyes, to be perfectly specific. There's just the one little issue, though. Aside from all the zeroes in Reyes' next contract, that is.
The Miami Marlins already have a shortstop, and according to Clark Spencer he's not real interested in becoming an ex-shortstop:
Source: H. Ramírez is not at all pleased at prospect of changing positions if Marlins sign Reyes; the two aren't the friends many portray.
Clark Spencer covers the Miami Marlins for the Miami Herald, and so this opinion about Ramírez and Reyes and the relative warmth of their social relationship probably carries more weight than most.
What's more, even if they were the best of pals, H. Ramírez wouldn't necessarily appreciate being moved from shortstop; most shortstops don't, particularly those shortstops who are 27 years old and were, just scant months ago, ranked among the game's greatest players.
If the Marlins do sign José Reyes, they're simply going to be in a tough place.
It'll be tough to trade him, because he's coming off a lousy season and is owed $46.5 million for the next three seasons. Ramírez's value at the moment is at an all-time low, so if the Marlins trade Ramírez they'll be trading from a position of weakness. Which is almost never a good thing.
If the Marlins keep him, he'll almost certainly be less valuable playing somewhere else than he was playing shortstop.
Still, the bottom line is that Hanley Ramírez, when right, is good enough to play anywhere. And, if right, will be worth more than $46.5 million whether he's playing center field or third base or second base or wherever.
If he's right.
7 comments
2
Dec 7
4
Dec 6
8
Dec 5
2
Dec 5
Mickey Hatcher, Angels Hitting Coach, Relieved Of Duties
Vance Worley Has 'Soreness', Will Miss Wednesday Start
Justin Morneau Will Be Activated From DL Wednesday
Manny Ramirez Rehab Assignment Will Start Saturday In Albuquerque
Jon Jay Heading To Disabled List; Shane Robinson Recalled
Troy Tulowitzki Day-To-Day With Deep Leg Bruise
Matt Kemp Goes On 15-Day DL With Sore Hamstring
Jeff Niemann Likely Missing 'A Few Months' With Leg Injury
VIDEO: Bryce Harper's First Career Home Run
Torii Hunter Placed On Restricted List Following Son's Arrest
More News »
Comments
So declining as a fielder DOES thrill him?
So much pride. I would like to see him watch the fry guy at McDonald’s get pressed into emergency register duties and see if said fry jockey makes it known that he is not happy about moving positions. Maybe Burger King will trade for him.
R.I.P. Nick Adenhart - Always an Angel
by Kernel on Nov 15, 2011 1:09 PM EST reply actions
How would Hanley Ramirez be less valuable at second than short?
11 01 10
Veni Vidi Vixi
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Nov 15, 2011 2:38 PM EST reply actions
Understandable. Interested to see where these guys end up
http://www.loveboatsports.com/2011/11/mlb-free-agency-roundtable-2012.html
by TI Da King1 on Nov 15, 2011 3:18 PM EST reply actions
Ramirez Needs to Get a Grip
To begin with, Ramirez is a lousy defensive shortstop, certainly inferior to Reyes with the glove. So from a baseball standpoint, this makes sense. Second, the team has the right to move the player to another position. This is not a radical shift, going from shortstop to third base. It’s not as if they have asked Ramirez to become a pitcher or a catcher.
Throughout baseball history, players have been moved from one position to another: outfielders to first base, shortstops to third base, second basemen to first base. I’m not sure why players have to put up such a stink over these changes; players do not have birthrights to certain positions.
by Bruce Markusen on Nov 15, 2011 9:34 PM EST reply actions
"Ramirez Needs to get a Grip"
So the takeaway here from both Rob’s article and the comment thread is that no baseball player, under any conditions, is able to express even mild displeasure about being asked to change a position they played their entire life. That or they should be happy to go work at Burger King. Or something. Got it. Just making sure we are all on the same page here. “Hey Rob, we know you are a baseball blogger, but we want you to write newspaper articles about HS golf in Scronton.” “Okey-dokey!”
by Augie31 on Nov 16, 2011 5:33 AM EST reply actions
Not At All
But when a player is obviously not as good as another, and the team thinks he would excel elsewhere, to express displeasure, while human, isn’t professional. When my manager asks me to take on a new project, I do so, because I’m a team player that understands the value I can bring with additional experience. When a player like Ramirez, who already cultivates an image of petulance and immaturity, whines about being moved from his current position, where he is not excellent, in favor of a player who is, it’s hard to understand what his discontent stands to gain him. It’s like Michael Young complaining about positional switches before. Sure, you have your pride, and no, it can’t be bought, but what’s more important here: winning, or whining?
R.I.P. Nick Adenhart - Always an Angel
by Kernel on Nov 16, 2011 8:39 AM EST up reply actions
Don't see what the big deal is...
Han-Ram really ought to know that he’ll be playing SS whenever Reyes is hurt. Which is often. Like, 2/5 of the time.
by lookatthathat on Nov 16, 2011 8:26 AM EST reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed