First off I fucking despise this move. Hanley is so much more important to this team than his stats. Very rude move by the Sox imo.
I found out the news that the Red Sox were DFA-ing Hanley from a text. I couldn't believe it. I was hoping since I hadn't gotten any notifications from the many sports apps on my smart phone that I was just getting fucked with. Sadly, I was not. It's very real.
Hanley's career with the Red Sox has been a roller-coaster for sure. But I'd call his time here a success. He was a big part of two teams that went to the playoffs and through April when the Red Sox were rolling at 17-2 he was a major reason why.
He signed with the Red Sox as an international free agent in 2000. Hanley was called up at the end of the 2005 season, I can still remember him down in Tampa wearing #60. He went 0-2 with two K's, then was traded to the Marlins for Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell. A deal that won the Red Sox the 2007 World Series. Mike Lowell was World Series MVP and Beckett went 4-0 with a 1.20 ERA and was the ALCS MVP. After a decade away Hanley signed back with Boston after the 2014 season. A hot first month in 2015 where he hit 10 home runs it seemed like the Sox struck gold. Then after further examination it was only pyrite. Things went all down hill from there. In 2015 Hanley played in only 105 games hit 19 home runs and batted .249. The Left Field experiment was a disaster (just like with Swihaet...funny how that works). Between him and Pablo Sandoval it looked like the Red Sox made two colossal free agent mistakes. Then in 2016 he moved to first base and seemed to turn things around hitting .286 with 30 home runs and a career high 111 RBIs. My favorite Hanley moment happened that season when he hit an absolute cock-rocket missile to CF off Dellin Betances (who at the time was still good) to walk it off for the Sox. I was listening on the radio on the way to a tinder meet-up that surprisingly did not go well. Hanley has been low key clutch throughout his time in Boston.
As much as I hate the move, I understand financially why the Red Sox did it. They had to get rid of somebody to make room for Pedroia. I just figured it would be one of the bottom feeders on this roster. If you were to rank the players on the Red Sox roster 1-25 I'd put Hanley around 7th for best players on the team. Mookie, Sale, J,D, Martinez, Kimbrel, Price, Xander, then I'd go Hanley. Luckily they're getting Pedroia, his four gold gloves and career .300 batting average back, but there are so many more possibilities of what the Red Sox could've done. They could've kept both.
Hanley's 22 million dollar option vests after 497 plate appearances, a number he was on pace to surpass. Don't believe for one second about what Dombrowski said about Alex Cora's request to move on from Hanley. This was all about money. Why would the President of Baseball Ops would risk their job over a second month manager's request?
Instead of sending down JBJ, releasing Sandy Leon or making a fucking decision to do with Blake Swihart who has done nothing but waste a roster space all season the Red Sox went with the option that saved them the most money. Which is pretty ironic considering between Pablo, Rusney Castillo and now Hanley Ramirez the Red Sox are paying more money to these three to not play on their major league roster than the Oakland A's have spent on their entire payroll since 1998 (please don't fact check).
I think there's a v high chance this fucks up the rest of the season for the Sox. I'm worried about how the guys on the ream react. From what I've read and observed he seemed to be very well liked in the clubhouse and a big part of the team dynamic. And as I said he was beloved by most fans. Seeing this video as his last time leaving Fenway as a Red Sox legit breaks my heart.
After hearing the Red Sox told him at 3:45 am this morning I am even more mad at how they handled this. I already am on record (ask anybody at my job or twitter dot com) that the Sox are going to get swept by the Braves this weekend.
Hanley has been struggling lately going 0-20 to end his Red Sox career. But I don't think that's why they DFA's him. If that's the case, if I'm Jackie Bradley Jr I'm already starting to pack my bags. This was all about money. I don't care what Dombrowski says.
To me this is going to fuck up the clubhouse. Hanley is beloved by players and fans alike. He's grown on me sooo much since 2016. The dude has mountains of swag, can rake when healthy, and seems like just a fun guy to be around. I think the Red Sox cut off their nose to spite their face with this move. I don't hate Mitch Moreland but I also think having both of these options and the added flexibility it gives the just makes the Red Sox ever more dangerous. That is no longer going to be the case.
I'm going to miss you El Trece.
I've had a few hours to process the news but honestly I am still shook af. I was torn between him and Joe Kelly for my next shirsey. I legit love Hanley.
I know the Red Sox had to make a roster move with Pedroia coming back but designating Hanley for assignment is the last thing I was expecting. To me this move is up there with the Nomar trade and 2012 Dodger dump for most surprising in-season moves for the Red Sox. I just don't understand why they'll let guys who suck like Nunez, and Leon waste a roster spot or let JBJ strike out 4 times a game but get rid of one of their more intimidating bats over money. Sure he's had a bad May but one month shouldn't be enough to move on so suddenly. Especially after his April.
I do understand the move from a finanical stand point but the thing is the Red Sox can fucking afford it. Maybe if they didn't give out so many bad contracts to guys who don't deserve it ( I actually think Hanley did) this wouldn't be an issue. I am extremely worried they're gonna let their own studs like Mookie and Chris Sale walk because of all the bad deals they've given. Gun to your head are the Red Sox better today than they were yesterday?
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