Remember when the Miami Marlins spent a gob-ton of money to sign shortstop José Reyes?
Hanley Ramirez: Third Base Is ‘Fine’
Yeah, probably. That was just a few weeks ago.
Remember when Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramírez was one of the best players in the National League?
Yeah, probably. That was just a few years ago. Somehow it seems like longer, though. Which is presumably why the Marlins have devoted a significant percentage of their financial resources to a new, different shortstop.
But the old shortstop still has three years and $46.5 million on his contract, so he has to play somewhere. It wasn’t until 2012 that we’ve finally received some word that Ramírez won’t have to be dragged, kicking and screaming, the 30 or 40 feet to third base.
Ramírez offered this comment to Dionisio Soldevila of The Associated Press: “I’ve talked with Guillen, and what we both want is to win with the Marlins. When January arrives, we’ll see what happens with the position change and everything else. If it’s at third, fine. Wherever they put me, I’ll do it in order to win.”
This sentiment was probably inevitable. Most players in Ramírez's position -- and not just the truly great team guys like Michael Young -- ultimately come to the same conclusion, whether on their own or with the help of an agent.
The real question has never really been whether or not Ramírez would play third base. The real question has always been, and remains, whether or not he’ll ever hit again and run again like he used to.
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