Aramis Ramirez

[KCBrewerfan34]

On 1250 today they retold a story that on a Chicago radio station today they were looking for possible destinations for Aramis Ramirez, he has been on fire lately. They mentioned the Brewers. A lot of things starting dancing in my head.

 

1. Supposedly, he doesn't want to be traded and would block a trade, we're only 90 miles away though, could the players and/or management talk him into waiving his no trade?

2. Cubs are not going to exercise their option, they apparently will buy him out for $2 million, this means they will probably move him.

3. What would the compensation be, they could shed alot of payroll plus the buyout if he's traded (anybody but Thornberg goes in this deal).

4. Can we afford him, he makes alot of money ($15 million + I believe).

5. Lastly, would the Cubs trade him within the division (there's no love lost towards the Cardinals).

 

I would absolutely love this deal, McGehee becomes our righty off of the bench, making our bench stronger and ARam would definitely provide some protection for Fielder and correct me if I'm wrong he loves hitting in Miller Park (or maybe just against our staff)

 

Get this deal done Doug!!!

[PrinceEatMeat]

Heck yes I would deal for Ramirez. I just highly doubt he will waive his no-trade though to any team. Would be a perfect piece for our lineup in the 5 spot protecting Fielder.

[FoxyFoxes]

Interesting. But could i bring my self to cheering for Ramirez.......http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/frown.gif

[Bnowell4evr]

I was drooling about this idea the other day but could we afford his $16M option for next year? If that's not an issue and he's willing to play here we should DEFINITELY look into it.

But all I really want is a league average production out of our left infield. A .700+ OPS out of both of those positions would look awfully good compared to what we've gotten out of Betancourt and McGehee..

[The Truth]

He'd no doubt be a huge upgrade over Casey. Might be tough to pull off a trade like that within the division. An .839 career OPS would a great addition and would give some protection for Braun next season

[jwill535]

If that happened, I would be curious to see when the last time a consistant starter was traded twice within the same division without being a FA.

[danzig6767]

I was drooling about this idea the other day but could we afford his $16M option for next year? If that's not an issue and he's willing to play here we should DEFINITELY look into it.

Aramis has a 16 million dollar club option for next year with a 2 million dollar buyout.

 

The Cubs almost assuredly will decline the option and buy him out for the 2 million next year if he's not traded. My guess is if the Cubs try to trade Ramirez, he'll try using his no-trade clause to tell the Cubs and any team interested that he'd waive that no-trade clause, but only if the interested team agreed to exercise his option for next year.

 

That may not end up working, but i'd expect Ramirez to at least try it if the Cubs shop him.

[Bnowell4evr]

I was drooling about this idea the other day but could we afford his $16M option for next year? If that's not an issue and he's willing to play here we should DEFINITELY look into it.

Aramis has a 16 million dollar club option for next year with a 2 million dollar buyout.

 

The Cubs almost assuredly will decline the option and buy him out for the 2 million next year if he's not traded. My guess is if the Cubs try to trade Ramirez, he'll try using his no-trade clause to tell the Cubs and any team interested that he'd waive that no-trade clause, but only if the interested team agreed to exercise his option for next year.

 

That may not end up working, but i'd expect Ramirez to at least try it if the Cubs shop him.

I thought I read that his option automatically vests if he's traded.

[Invader3K]

I would love a trade like this. Can't stand A-Ram, but he is a good player and would be a huge upgrade over McGehee right now. His .843 OPS would look amazing behind Prince.

[DuWayne Steurer]

It would be really hard for me to overcome my A-ram hatred, but I guess I could dig deep and do it for the team.

 

Seriously though.......a few things bug me here. He had a really down year last year, and had a pretty slow start this year as well. His power numbers have rebounded just recently, and his season overall looks good, but still nowhere near his peak years when he was a regular .900 OPS guy. I'm just worried that 16 mil is a BIG chunk to pay the guy next year when he's 34 and showing signs of some decline.

 

I don't know if paying A-Ram 16 mil next year would be a deterrent towards re-signing Prince (doubt it), but I'm still not a huge fan of tying that much payroll into a guy who's not a sure bet to produce what you need out of that kind of money.

[Invader3K]

I don't know if paying A-Ram 16 mil next year would be a deterrent towards re-signing Prince (doubt it),

Is that really any kind of real concern at this point, though?

[KCBrewerfan34]

I would hope ARam's desire to play in a pennant drive would win out over staying home, if not we probably wouldn't want that type of player. There are different versions surrounding this option, it's possible the Brew or any team trading for him would NOT be on the hook for next year's option but would have the ability to exercise ths $2 million dollar buyout.

 

Alot of things have to happen here but man we would have a great lineup!!!!

[DuWayne Steurer]

I don't know if paying A-Ram 16 mil next year would be a deterrent towards re-signing Prince (doubt it),

Is that really any kind of real concern at this point, though?

No. that's why I said "doubt it".

[Roscoe Chill]

I think this is the type of move the Brewers should really look hard at. Prince is gone. As soon as you accept that, you can start looking at other ways to improve the club with money that would have gone to Prince. Without even looking at future money invested in long term contracts, Aramis Ramirez wouldn't add any payroll for next year...he'd just take over Prince's $. It's a good one plus year fix. Ramirez and Gamel instead of McGehee and Fielder next year would soften the blow. Get a decent SS, and start looking in to keeping the starting pitching around, and contending year after year is doable.

[DuWayne Steurer]

I think this is the type of move the Brewers should really look hard at. Prince is gone. As soon as you accept that, you can start looking at other ways to improve the club with money that would have gone to Prince. Without even looking at future money invested in long term contracts, Aramis Ramirez wouldn't add any payroll for next year...he'd just take over Prince's $. It's a good one plus year fix. Ramirez and Gamel instead of McGehee and Fielder next year would soften the blow. Get a decent SS, and start looking in to keeping the starting pitching around, and contending year after year is doable.

If Ramirez were 3 years younger, I'd have far less issue with this. Ramirez kinda sucked last year, and had a really slow start (at least with his power numbers) this year. He's got some pretty decent numbers across the board, but I'm just concerned at his age that the signs are leading to a sharp decline here, and it could be sooner rather than later.

 

I'm not at all opposed to spending "prince's money" on a 3B or 1B upgrade, but I'd just rather it not be Ramirez.

[RockCoCougars]

Too much money for a guy who has been injury prone the past few seasons. Why help the Cubs clear salary?

[Invader3K]

Too much money for a guy who has been injury prone the past few seasons. Why help the Cubs clear salary?

It's not about helping the Cubs. It's about fixing at least one black hole in our lineup. For the value he would bring to the Brewers right now, I think he would be worth paying $8 million or so over the rest of this season. Ramirez is probably still able to play better defense than McGehee as well (I admit I haven't seen enough of him this season to know for sure).

[RockCoCougars]

With the buyout, we are talking $10 million for a 70 game rental. Not worth the risk for a guy who is old and has been injured a good part of the past two seasons. What if you trade for him, and he hurts his shoulder again 10 games later?

[Invader3K]

With the buyout, we are talking $10 million for a 70 game rental. Not worth the risk for a guy who is old and has been injured a good part of the past two seasons. What if you trade for him, and he hurts his shoulder again 10 games later?

That can happen with any player. He's been healthy this season, and I would think the chances of him staying healthy the rest of this year should be relatively high. IIRC, he was hurt in a play at third base in 2009. 2010, I'm not sure of the circumstances of his injuries, but he still played in 124 games.

[JohnBriggs12]

With the buyout, we are talking $10 million for a 70 game rental. Not worth the risk for a guy who is old and has been injured a good part of the past two seasons. What if you trade for him, and he hurts his shoulder again 10 games later?

No, we are talking roughly $22-23 million for 1.3 seasons. His option for next year is vested if he is traded, meaning any team acquiring him is locked into next year as well. He's been hot lately, but he's shown signs of decline too. I might do if if I thought I could trade him in the offseason to unload most of that $16 million and open up a spot for Green.

 

His injury history is with a shoulder, and yes it could crop up again.

[RockCoCougars]

With the buyout, we are talking $10 million for a 70 game rental. Not worth the risk for a guy who is old and has been injured a good part of the past two seasons. What if you trade for him, and he hurts his shoulder again 10 games later?

No, we are talking roughly $22-23 million for 1.3 seasons. His option for next year is vested if he is traded, meaning any team acquiring him is locked into next year as well.

In that case, absolutely no way they should even think about this.

[JohnBriggs12]

"no way they should even think about this".

 

Oh it's definitely worth thinking about. It's not a long term financial commitment, and if Fielder walks, it just offsets the salary coming off the books for him.

 

There is definite risk. Ramirez has always been streaky (in May when he was struggling this deal was unthinkable) and he could fall on his face. But his bat could get them over the hump this year too and make them a much more formidable lineup come playoff time. Plus it would weaken the Cubs this year and the Brewers have 9 games left with the Cubs. The other thing to consider is Brewers are an indoor team and Ramirez struggled in the cold weather months in Chicago.

 

The question is what would they have to give up. The Cubs will want something of value in return to deal him within the division to a rival although the Cubs actually might prefer to see Brewers win over the hated Cardinals.

[Roscoe Chill]

Every potential acquisition carries a bit of risk. We're talking about this year and next year (or at least I am). Is it a lot of money? Sure. What are your other alternatives though?

 

Are you going to be able to lure a bat similar to Ramirez in free agency? If so, OK, how many years are you on the hook for at what per year? In my opinion, this would be of the low risk variety, keep your lineup competitive while not committing to someone long term.

 

If you want to trade for a bat like Ramirez in a different, more $ friendly situation, then you're going to give up more of the farm system or other assets. I don't really think the Cubs would want a whole lot for him if the money is off their hands.

 

I've accepted Prince is gone, and I'm OK with it, however I'm not OK with Casey McGehee being counted on right behind Braun and Hart as far as run producers go.

[RockCoCougars]

I think if you are looking to acquire a 3B you start with Mark Reynolds. I'd be asking Baltimore about both him and Hardy right now (yes, I know about the extension talk). If Baltimore won't move him, I'd go to Murphy and then to Wigginton. Both of these guys can play multiple positions and have some pop in their bats. They are also much cheaper than Ramirez with much less risk.

[Warning Track Power]

I just don't think there is anything that will make 3B a priority for DM this season given we have Taylor Green and Gamel to a certain extent in the Minors. SS is the obvious need and unless something truly creative comes about, like a Reynolds AND Hardy trade, I just don't see DM going outside the organization to fill a need at 3B.