So in case you haven't heard, the Miami Marlins have new uniforms and they seem to be really interested in a new shortstop: José Reyes, to be perfectly specific. There's just the one little issue, though. Aside from all the zeroes in Reyes' next contract, that is.
Hanley Ramirez Not Thrilled About Making Way For Jose Reyes
The Miami Marlins are reportedly hot for José Reyes, which is fantastic except for the Marlins already having a pretty good shortstop who’s under contract through 2014. And maybe he doesn’t wanna move.
The Miami Marlins already have a shortstop, and according to Clark Spencer he’s not real interested in becoming an ex-shortstop:
Source: H. Ramírez is not at all pleased at prospect of changing positions if Marlins sign Reyes; the two aren’t the friends many portray.Clark Spencer covers the Miami Marlins for the Miami Herald, and so this opinion about Ramírez and Reyes and the relative warmth of their social relationship probably carries more weight than most.
What’s more, even if they were the best of pals, H. Ramírez wouldn’t necessarily appreciate being moved from shortstop; most shortstops don’t, particularly those shortstops who are 27 years old and were, just scant months ago, ranked among the game’s greatest players.
If the Marlins do sign José Reyes, they’re simply going to be in a tough place.
It’ll be tough to trade him, because he’s coming off a lousy season and is owed $46.5 million for the next three seasons. Ramírez’s value at the moment is at an all-time low, so if the Marlins trade Ramírez they’ll be trading from a position of weakness. Which is almost never a good thing.
If the Marlins keep him, he’ll almost certainly be less valuable playing somewhere else than he was playing shortstop.
Still, the bottom line is that Hanley Ramírez, when right, is good enough to play anywhere. And, if right, will be worth more than $46.5 million whether he's playing center field or third base or second base or wherever.
If he’s right.
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