Cleveland Indians sign Hanley Ramirez to minor league contract

In a move that would have been exciting four years ago, the Cleveland Indians have signed Hanley Ramirez to a contract.

Bryce Harper, Dallas Keuchel, and Craig Kimbrel may all be free agents still, but at least one name has signed a contract. Maybe he has been out of baseball since June 1, when he was released due to his failing performance, but all it took was for one team to give him a chance. The Cleveland Indians, and their low budget approach to the offseason, are just that team.

Yes, Hanley Ramirez is back. He has signed a minor league contract with Cleveland, as he is getting a chance to find a spot in the game once again.

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The past two seasons have been a disaster for Ramirez. He had produced a combined .245/.318/.421 batting line. While he did hit 29 home runs in that time, Ramirez hardly looked like the offensive force he had been. After his surprising release from the Red Sox on June 1, he was unable to get a look from any other team.

However, Ramirez did show some signs of life in the Dominican Winter League. Playing for the Tigres del Licey, Ramirez posted a respectable .266/.360/.469 batting line, hitting three homers and four doubles in his 75 plate appearances. That performance has led to the hope that Ramirez can, once more, be a productive major leaguer.

There is certainly a spot for him on the Indians. Presumed first baseman Jake Bauers is a left handed hitter, and posted a .176/.276/.319 batting line against lefties in his 106 plate appearances against them last season. Ramirez, even with his struggles, was still able to hit lefties, producing a .333/.378/.476 batting line with a home run and three doubles against southpaws in 45 plate appearances. If he still has something left in the tank, he could be the perfect platoon partner for Bauers at first.

However, it still speaks volumes to the state of free agency that Ramirez has been signed, but several of the top free agents remain without a contract. He could not find a job after being released last season, but in a day where teams seek out any possible bargain instead of spending in free agency, Ramirez became an attractive option.

Hanley Ramirez is back, having signed with the Cleveland Indians. Who would have imagined that he would sign before the likes of Bryce Harper or Dallas Keuchel this offseason?