Free agent shortstop Hanley Ramirez will attract interest from a number of teams on this year’s MLB market. The Seattle Mariners could be one of those teams.
It would be hard to imagine a middle infield with more pop offensively than one with Robinson Cano at second base and Hanley Ramirez at shortstop. If the Mariners get seriously aggressive again this off-season, that middle infield pairing could be an actual possibility.
Ken Rosenthal reports the following about Ramirez and about Seattle’s interest in him:
Sources: #Mariners interested in Hanley. Some, however, doubt team will make another $100M+ signing. One source says VMart is M's priority.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 10, 2014
Victor Martinez would certainly make more sense of the Mariners, but Seattle might be able to find a lot of the offense he would bring at the designated hitter position elsewhere. It is more rare to find a shortstop like Ramirez who brings elite offense, even if his work on defense is shaky from time to time.
More from MLB
- MLB Trade Grades: Dodgers land Amed Rosario from Guardians
- Braves get dose of bad news on Max Fried as ace nears return
- Shohei Ohtani trade rumors live tracker: Every update so far
- MLB Rumors: Yankees mistake, Cardinals trade package, Cubs choice
- Inside the Clubhouse: What I’m hearing ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline
Ramirez batted .283/.369/.448 in 128 games last season for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The team extended him a $15.3 million qualifying offer last week, meaning that any other team will have to surrender a first round draft pick if they sign the veteran shortstop. That adds even more risk to the prospect of signing a guy who already comes with a shaky injury history and some other baggage as well.
A right-handed, power-hitting shortstop will attract major attention in free agency. The Mariners may or may not be in position to sign Ramirez after their aggressive moves last winter, but if they did land him, it would fill a significant hole on their roster as they try to get over the hump and reach the playoffs in 2015.
More from FanSided
- NFL rumors: Aaron Rodgers sets Jets up for Super Bowl run with new contract
- MLB Trade Grades: Dodgers land Amed Rosario from Guardians
- Colorado gives Pac-12 a possible death knell with move to Big 12
- NFL rumors: Dalvin Cook suitor maintaining very ‘real’ interest
- Braves get dose of bad news on Max Fried as ace nears return