Outside of Colorado Rockies infielder Troy Tulowitzki, there isn’t a better offensive shortstop in the game than Hanley Ramirez of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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Understandably, the free agent to be wants his upcoming contract to reflect such though the Los Angeles Dodgers have a few understandable concerns. Their main worry is simply the health of Hanley Ramirez as he’s proven to be a considerable injury risk.
Ramirez’s history of being oft-injured isn’t exactly new as it is something that he’s dealt with his entire career. Only once has Ramirez played over 150 games in a season since 2009. As if that wasn’t worrisome enough, the Los Angeles Dodgers are also said to be worried about Ramirez’s declining skills on the defensive side of the ball as noted by Peter Gammons.
"But at this point there seems to be considerable doubt about whether or not the Dodgers will get into any longterm deal with the 30-year old. They worry about whether or not he can stay at short; his range isn’t what it used to be, his defensive runs saved numbers put him in the bottom 20% of regular shortstops, and his time at third base with the Marlins was not a big success. There are concerns about his durability; he has played 120 games once in four years."
The baseball insider believes that if Hanley Ramirez can’t find middle ground with the Dodgers, he’s likely to sign with an American League team who will allow him to take occasional time off from the field in a designated hitter role.