The Cleveland Indians had been adamant that Jose Ramirez would not be going anywhere. Even though they appeared to have begun a fire sale in the previous offseason, Ramirez stayed put. With two years of team control beyond this season, and an affordable contract, it was understandable why the Indians would hope to build around him.
But that was then. As the Indians have fallen flat coming out of the All Star Break, the time to embrace the rebuild may be upon them. As such, it has been reported that the Indians are considering trading Ramirez, who would immediately become one of the more attractive options available.
Three landing spots for Cleveland Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez
Ramirez could potentially have a more robust market than Kris Bryant. Unlike the Cubs’ third baseman, Ramirez would be more than a rental. His affordable deal, as he would be due another $24 million should his options be exercised, would allow any acquiring team to build around him in the lineup. However, there is no guarantee that he will be on the move.
The Cleveland Indians are reportedly considering trading Jose Ramirez. Let us take a look at three possible landing spots.
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers have ridden a dominant bullpen and a solid starting rotation to the top spot in the NL Central. Their offense, on the other hand, leaves a lot to be desired.
The Brewers rank dead last in the National League in batting average and 12th in slugging. Their third basemen, in particular, have been mediocre at best, posting a .664 OPS with 21 homers. Travis Shaw was a dramatic disappointment before landing on the Injured list, and while Luis Urias has been solid in his place, he may best be suited as a utility man.
Ramirez would give the Brewers’ lineup an element that is sorely missing. He would be an instant improvement to the batting order, providing someone that can be paired with Christian Yelich to give Milwaukee a solid 1-2 punch in the middle of the order.
There may be added incentive for the Brewers to add Ramirez. The Bucks just won the NBA Championship, with the city rallied around them. The Brewers have yet to win a championship, and it is now their turn.
If the Cleveland Indians are making Jose Ramirez available, the Milwaukee Brewers need to pick up the phone. He could transform their lineup instantly.