Theo Epstein is One Creative GM; Red Sox Make Play for Hanley Ramirez

Give the Red Sox credit. When life hands them lemons, they make lemonade ... and they go to the state more famous for oranges to do it. They struck once in late 2005 when they traded Hanley Ramirez to get themselves Josh Beckett, and Beckett helped them to a World Series championship in 2007. Now, in the winter of 2008, Epstein has responded to their failed pursuit of Mark Teixeira by going to the Marlins and trying to get Ramirez back.

Epstein offered the Marlins a deal which included Clay Buchholz and Jacoby Ellsbury, and was supposedly planning on putting Hanley in center field while keeping Jed Lowrie at short. Considering Ramirez isn't the most fluid defensive shortstop in the world, that wouldn't be a bad position switch, and it's a creative way to add Ramirez's bat into Boston's lineup.

Problem: Even though trading Ramirez would be a good way to shed salary for Florida, the Marlins are hoping to build around Hanley when they move into their new stadium, and can hopefully afford him more easily. He's too good a talent to give away for the normal haul of prospects, so the Marlins ultimately turned Epstein down. But you can't blame Theo for trying. And the fact that he got the Marlins' brief attention shows that he's willing to shoot for the moon, and that he has the prospects to pull off a blockbuster somewhere else if he so chooses.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

12-30-2008 @ 10:31AM

Mike said...

WOuld I trade Ellsbury and Buchholz for Ramirez? IN A HEARTBEAT!!!! Package up Buchholz, Lowrie and Bowden.

12-30-2008 @ 5:11PM

doggone said...

I doubt that T Epstein is a genius. I would not trade Elsbury for
any player. Bucholtz is worthless as is Byrd. Not to mention the young catcher Cash who was sent to the Yankee farm system.Not genius--just stupid.

12-30-2008 @ 6:35PM

TheHulk said...

Wow what a trade....

This along with getting an injury prone (crap bag) pitcher like Brad Penny.

and don't forget the newest Red Sox (answer to Johnny Beanch) power house Josh Bard at catcher.

These new guys should bring at least 11 more world series rings (in a row)...

I think these signings will help us forget all about losing Manny's 150 RBI's, 300+ battling avg and his 40 HR's

YIKES...

12-30-2008 @ 6:56PM

pcat1173 said...

epstein's no genius, he was against the trade for beckett back in '05. if he's so brilliant, why can't he get a #4 hitter with all his hot prospects? oh that's right, he has to get permission from big daddy john henry before he so much as farts in his office. this franchise is becoming a joke, oodles of cash yet a total unwillingness to spend and upgrade. hell, in a couple of years, florida maybe dealing for all of boston's big names! thanx for nothing, henry, lucchino,etc.

12-30-2008 @ 7:50PM

KEN said...

pcat1173 UMMMMMMMM ISN'T THEO AND HENRY THE ONE'S WHO ENDED BOSTON'S 86 YEARS OF MISERY ? THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT GOOD THINGS IN BOSTON SO FAR AND THEY GOT RID OF THAT PAIN IN THE BUTT MANNY ( I'LL PLAY WHEN I WANT AND CRY THE REST OF THE TIME ) RAMIREZ GRANT A FEW MOVES I DO NOT AGREE WITH BUT THEY ARE WINNING AND IN PLAYOFFS EVERY YEAR NOW AND HAVE A CHANCE AT THE WORLD SERIES EVERY YEAR AND IF THE CRY BABY STAYED IN BOSTON AND PLAYED AS HARD AS HE DID FOR THE DODGERS AND MIKE LOWELL AND BECKETT WERE NOT HURT THEY WOULD HAVE CRUSHED EVERYONE THROUGHOUT THE PLAYOFF'S THEO IS DOING A OK JOB AND BOSTON IS RIGHT NOT TO GO OVERBOARD WITH THE CONTRACTRS FOR THE FREE AGENTS WHO WANT CRAZY MONEY I DO NOT CARE WHO THE PLAYER IS KNOW ONE IS WORTH 20 MILLION A YEAR TO PLAY BASEBALL I HOPE VERY SOON THERE IS A SALARY CAP IN BASEBALL AND THAT WOULD END THE YANKEES DOMINATION ONLY REASON THEY WIN ALL THE TIME THEY BUY THERE WORLD SERIES GRANT IT IT HAS NOT WORKED IN THE PAST 8 YEARS LUCKILY BUT I HAVE A STRANGE FEELING IT MAY END VERY SOON IF THEY SIGN THAT JERK OFF FOR 25 MILLION WHICH HAS REPORTS THEY ARE GOING TO DO IT THE SOX AND RAYS BETTER PLAY THERE """A """ GAME VERY SINGLE INNING THIS SEASON AND HOPE A FEW YANKEES GET HURT ( WHICH I HOPE KNOW ONE GETS INUURED I HATE SEEING ANYONE HURTING BUT THAT MAY BE THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THEM) GO SOX AND RAYS !!!!!!!!!!

12-30-2008 @ 10:15PM

Kenny's Dead said...

Wow...Ken you're a smart one

12-30-2008 @ 10:22PM

Bro said...

Still trying to replace Manny's bat. Good luck with that.
Sosa,Giambi,Bonds and Dunn all available. Bonds would bring Big Sloppy bat back and maybe more.

12-31-2008 @ 10:49AM

Stu said...

WOW! Theo may not be a genius but he certainly had a hand in bringing Boston the world series victories. All you who think just because the Yankees have spent all that money, that they will win it all take a look at the Dallas Cowboys!! I guess Theo has had nothing to do with building the farm system so they have the prospects to trade for established players they might want. As is always the case when you open message boards to the public, people will write on things they know nothing about.

1-01-2009 @ 4:10PM

shellfishdiver said...

i like the deal. i would even throw in jed lowrie. we can kkep ramirez as SS. then sign baldelli for center. or move drew to center and still sign baldelli to back up and then get dunn or abreu for right.

1-15-2009 @ 1:57AM

Jpezy said...

You cant have baldelli play full time in center he hasnt played a full season in who knows how long. im not saying he cant but you would have to platoon him with another player out there.