Milwaukee Brewers to pick up Aramis Ramirez’s $14 million option
By Ed Carroll
The Milwaukee Brewers intend to pick up third baseman Aramis Ramirez’s 2015 option, worth $14 million, reports CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman. Milwaukee also could have declined the option in lieu of a $4 million buyout, but it appears the Brewers are happy with Ramirez at the hot corner.
More from Milwaukee Brewers
- Brewers attempt to troll Elly De La Cruz backfires 456 feet
- MLB Rumors: Shohei Ohtani, Angels, Dodgers, Rich Hill
- MLB standings ordered by hard hit rate: Struggling Cardinals still cracking bats
- MLB Trade Deadline Insider Q&A: Shohei Ohtani, Padres, Cardinals, Brewers
- Juan Soto rumors: 5 monstrous trade packages to land the Padres star
Ramirez is no spring chicken anymore, at 36 years old, but the Brewers probably felt more comfortable keeping him as its third baseman than exploring the free agent or trade markets this winter. 2014 was Ramirez’s third season in Milwaukee, and he slashed .295/.341/.447, with a wRC+ of 118. Ramirez also had 15 home runs and was worth 2.5 fWAR while batting cleanup.
This further weakens an already poor free agent market for third basemen. Pablo Sandoval of the San Francisco Giants is the only top-tier third baseman potentially available, and he will likely receive the qualifying offer (and be tied to draft pick compensation) or sign an extension with the Giants. The New York Yankees’ third baseman, Chase Headley, will also be a free agent; Headley was acquired by the Yankees prior to the trade deadline, and because he was traded mid-season, the Yankees cannot offer him the qualifying offer.
A 17-year veteran, Ramirez has played his entire career in the National League. He spent his first five-and-a-half years with the Pittsburgh Pirates, before being traded to the Chicago Cubs, where he spent the next eight seasons. Ramirez signed with the Brewers as a free agent in December 2011.
More from FanSided.com
MLB Power Rankings: Angels on top as playoffs take shape
Umpire Joe West suspended one game
Toronto Blue Jays’ Marcus Stroman suspended six games
MLB: Ranking top SP combos for AL contenders
Rusney Castillo called up by Boston Red Sox