Boston Red Sox Hanley Ramirez will spend time at first base during winter ball
On Monday Hanley Ramirez informed ESPN Deportes that he will play winter ball for the Licey Tigers. While a veteran star playing winter ball is interesting enough, Ramirez also noted that he will spend time at 1B to prepare for the 2016 season with the Boston Red Sox. However, John Tomase of WEEI notes Ramirez will spend most of his time as the teams DH.
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Ramirez signed as a free agent with the Red Sox last off-season. The thirty-one year old is scheduled to make at least 22 million dollars each of the next four seasons. Most analysts expected the right handed hitter to find a lot of success playing at Fenway Park. However, Ramirez struggled through the worst offensive season of his career in 2015. He hit .249/.291/.426 to go along with 19 HR and 53 RBI. However, his offense was the least of Ramirez’s concerns last year.
Prior to the start of the season there were questions about how the Red Sox would use him defensively. There was some belief that they would play the former SS at 3B, but once the Red Sox also signed Pablo Sandoval that became unlikely. Ramirez was moved to LF, but he was unable to find success in that position. Among players who spent at least 300 innings in LF, Ramirez finished last in baseball with -19 DRS. It was obvious that a change was going to need to happen heading in to 2016.
Mike Napoli and Travis Shaw handled the bulk of the 1B duties for the Red Sox last year. Napoli was traded to the Rangers in August. Shaw had a lot of success against left handed pitching, but struggled to find the same results against righties. While it’s unlikely the Red Sox would deploy a full platoon at 1B, Shaw will likely still see some playing time at the position. Ramirez could also fill in from time to time at DH giving David Ortiz some rest.
Once Ortiz retires after this season it’s likely Ramirez could spend more time as the teams DH. Moving to first should alleviate some of Ramirez’s defensive liabilities, but he’ll need to rebound offensively for the Red Sox to get good production at the position. Twenty players got enough plate appearances as first basemen to quality this season. By wRC+ Ramirez would have been the worst offensive player of the group.
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Red Sox fans are hoping the extra work this winter plus a defensive change will help bring back the Hanley of old at the plate.