Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
May 10, 2008
Keeping a Player

The Marlins are finally spending some money:

According to a club source, the team has been negotiating with budding star Hanley Ramirez for some time. He will reportedly sign a six-year, $70 million deal in the coming days.

When asked recently about his relatively low salary, Ramirez said, ''next year.'' Ramirez, who is making $439,000 this season, also has expressed interest in staying with the team long term after being the National League's Rookie of the Year in 2006.

They should have done this with Cabrera, too. However, this doesn't make it less likely they'll trade Hanley. He'll be a worth every prospect for some team at that price. We'll see if he insists on a no-trade clause.


Posted by David Pinto at 09:54 AM | Transactions | TrackBack (0)
Comments

"However, this doesn't make it less likely they'll trade Hanley."

I don't see how you can say that. They are showing an active interest in keeping one of their young players around; this is new. Sure, it's still possible that they trade him, but this certainly makes it less likely.

Posted by: Vegas Watch at May 10, 2008 12:13 PM

Bronson Arroyo.

Posted by: David Pinto at May 10, 2008 01:36 PM

I agree with David on the tradeability issue. Having Ramirez under long-term contract makes him a more desirable commodity. Look at the difference between the Johan Santana and Dan Haren trades: the A's got a much bigger haul. Santana's a better pitcher with a longer track record, but Haren had a far better contract situation.

I'm not saying the Marlins are planning to trade Ramirez. I'm just saying that, in today's trade market, he just became significantly more tradeable. Given the franchise's track record, it's reasonable to conclude that they made this deal not to build a team, but to facilitate the next trade.

Posted by: jvwalt at May 10, 2008 02:20 PM

Two word responses really encourage commenting on the site. Clearly, since one player was once signed to a three-year deal two months before getting traded, that player is a direct comparison to Hanley Ramirez. Forget every other contract that's ever been signed- that's the relevant one.

Posted by: Vegas Watch at May 10, 2008 02:30 PM

Here's what I wrote when Arroyo signed his contract. It wasn't long until Bronson was traded away. Unless Hanley has a no trade clause, I'd bet the Marlins are going to say at some point that they can't afford the $10 million and trade him for prospects.

Posted by: David Pinto at May 10, 2008 02:37 PM

The Red Sox guaranteeing Bronson Arroyo $12MM is not comparable to the Marlins guaranteeing Hanley Ramirez $70MM. They're just not similar situations.

They might trade him at some point, sure. But what about if they didn't sign him to an extension? In that case, they would almost definitely trade him away in the next three years, before he hits free agency. With the new contract, they might trade him over the next six years, but, especially with the new stadium opening in 2011, they might not. That would fall into the category of "less likely".

Posted by: Vegas Watch at May 10, 2008 02:52 PM
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