Ken Rosenthal on Twitter reports that the Red Sox are trading Mike Lowell to the Texas Rangers. In exchange for eating most of Lowell’s $12 million salary, the Red Sox are receiving catcher Max Ramirez.
Ramirez, 25, has a .299/.398/.486 batting line overall in the minor leagues. As a 22-year old two years ago making his major league debut, Ramirez hit .217/.345/.370 in 46 at-bats. (Ramirez is 25 now, and will be 25 in baseball age this upcoming season.) Despite that showing, there was never a question he could hit until this last year. Ramirez spent part of the season hurt, which translated into a .234/.323/.366 line in 320 at-bats. Ouch.
All it is us up to the Red Sox owners, and I can see why this would be a tough decision for them. In the end, they’re going to okay it. Lowell will be shipped off, and then two options will emerge.
OPTION A: Sign Adrian Beltre. Personally, I would be fans of this move. I love his swing in Fenway Park, and he has impeccable defense. At a three-year deal worth about $32 million, I’d be more than happy having Beltre outfitted. That leaves things as the status quo, with Ramirez in Triple-A biding his time.
OPTION B: Give this option some thought, here. Whether or not you agree about Beltre as third base or some other superior option, we all can agree that Theo has blanched at the last moment for two years straight now. Assuming he blanchs to Option A, what’s the darkhorse option that I personally would be excited to see? Youkilis moving to third, which they keep trying to do. Victor Martinez — surprise — shifts to first base. That leaves Jason Varitek and Max Ramirez in a platoon. What we sacrifice on offense — remember, this might be a “bridge” year — the team would gain in having Varitek mentor Ramirez.
Why is this crucial? Because Ramirez has questionable pitch-calling and defensive set up. His bat is enough to play in the bigs, but he has a ways to go behind the plate — and we all know this is Jason Varitek’s last year. If the team wants to push along towards a contending window of 2011-2013, Ramirez is going to be a big part of that. Why not give him his shot now?
Will this happen? I don’t know. But don’t discount it.