Hanley Ramirez Extended Qualifying Offer By Los Angeles Dodgers

Hanley Ramirez was extended a qualifying offer by the Los Angeles Dodgers as he prepares to hit the open market in MLB free agency this winter.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers still aren’t probably totally sure what they should do with free agent shortstop Hanley Ramirez. The one thing they likely did know is that they don’t want to lose him for nothing, and so they took a step forward in that regard on Monday.

The team announced that they have issued a $15.3 million qualifying offer to Ramirez.

The Dodgers have extended a qualifying offer to shortstop Hanley Ramirez.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) November 3, 2014

There is no doubt about Ramirez’s value when he is healthy. He brings an elite, powerful bat from the right side of the plate. In 2014, he batted .283/.369/.448 with 13 home runs and 71 RBI in 128 games played. That is the good that he brings, especially since that offense comes from the shortstop position.

There are drawbacks with Ramirez, however. He struggles on defense at this point in his career and has been injury prone in recent seasons. The Dodgers surely would like him back, but only at a certain price. Even the Dodgers and their current free-spending ways have to be wary of a multi-year deal with Ramirez.

Another team might be willing to pay up for Ramirez, but it will now cost them draft pick compensation as well. That probably buys time for the Dodgers to figure out how much they value Ramirez and what kind of offer they want to make.

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