Free Agent Hanley Ramirez Willing To Switch Positions

Oct 3, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez (13) hits an RBI single in the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals in game one of the 2014 NLDS playoff baseball game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Hanley Ramirez, a free agent who was one of the lowest-rated shortstops defensively in 2014, says he’s willing to switch positions in 2015.

Hanley Ramirez has been one of the best offensive shortstops in baseball over his nine full seasons.

That’s a good thing because he’s been one of the worst defensive shortstops in baseball over that same time period.

Ramirez, who will be 31 next month, was the leader among qualified shortstops in MLB with an .817 OPS for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2014. At the same time, he was the second worst qualified player at the position defensively, according to FanGraphs.com, with an ultimate zone rating with minus-10.3 runs—meaning he cost the Dodgers that many runs.

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According to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, Ramirez is willing to switch positions to play “wherever there’s a need.”

That’s a sign he would be willing to move to third base, a move he made with the Miami Marlins in 2012 after the Marlins signed free agent shortstop Jose Reyes. But he returned to shortstop shortly after he was dealt to the Dodgers in July 2012.

Ramirez hit .283/.369/.448 for Los Angeles last season, while missing 34 games with a variety of ailments. He had 35 doubles, 13 home runs and 71 RBI while stealing 14 bases in 19 attempts.

He won the NL batting title and finished second in the MVP race in 2009 with the Marlins, hitting .342/.410/.543 with 24 homers and 106 RBI.

A lifetime .300 hitter, Ramirez hit .299/.,368/.506 in parts of three season in L.A.

Some interest teams are interpreting Ramirez’s declaration as an indication that he would also be willing to consider a move to a corner outfield spot or first base.

Ramirez did receive a one-year, $15.3 million qualifying offer from the Dodgers last week and he has until Monday to decide whether to accept the offer (yeah, sure, it could happen … theoretically) or reject it and become a free agent.

Rejecting the qualifying offer would entitle the Dodgers to draft pick compensation and would cost whatever team signs Ramirez their highest available pick in next June’s entry draft.

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