Dodgers interested in Aramis Ramirez

[DHonks]

He's under contract for 2 more years. He likes Milwaukee. I'm in no hurry to deal him

[molitor fan]

Wright, Cabrera, Beltre, Freese are the only 3B having better seasons than ARAM in my mind.....yes, there are diminishing returns on a hefty contract, but the guy has played well and is a bigtime asset.

[monty57]

I would think that the recent news of Aramis' "nagging wrist injury" will put a damper on trade demand for him. At this point, I'd be pretty surprised if Ramirez gets traded.

[Oldcity]

Well he played yesterday, so I don't think it would be a problem anymore.

 

Seeing these reports of a "thin market" for middle-of-the-order hitters only frustrates me more that the Brewers really aren't considering trading Ramirez or Hart.

[Kelbysdaddy]

COREY HART FOR NICK CASTELLANOS!!! DO IT DOUG. detroit is looking for a middle of the order hitter, especially since v-mart isn't looking like he's going to make it back at all this year. of is definatly a spot they can improve.

[fondybrewfan]

I was going to ask the same questions. Would Detroit have any interest in Hart or Ramirez and what could/would they offer for them. I doubt Castellanos would be in play for either of them. You would probably have to offer Aram/Hart + a couple good prospects and even then i doubt a deal could be worked out. Castellanos has to be darn near untouchable.

[Nader Raider Tim]

While Castellanos is probably untouchable you try and play hardball with them. See if you can't force their hand and play on their owners desire to win a championship before he passes away. Wasn't the rumor that the owner completely bypassed the front office for the Fielder signing? Screw calling the GM, call the owner directly.

 

Pipe dreams are fun.

[Kelbysdaddy]

i'd give hart and jungmann for nick

[derflotr]

I think it's crucial they get out of this contract. I don't know if there's any demand for Ramirez, but if there is, I'd take the best offer.

[slappzilla]

Ramirez has been on fire so you'd think his stock couldn't get much higher. I assume going off the lack of waves reading twitter that Doug is done trading, which I think stinks.

 

The Brewers are not going to contend next year. They need to rebuild and take advantage of Ramirez current hot play because his back end loaded contract will be a hassle.

[RockCoCougars]

I'm not trading Ramirez unless I get something of decent value for him. Teams that are trying to add pieces have been looking very tight in not only money that they want to take on, but also in talent that they are willing to part with. I wasn't a huge fan of the Ramirez signing, but looking at the 2012 free agent class, how do you replace him? The Ramirez signing certainly looks better than a Jimmy Rollins signing would have (looks like the Phillies are going to be stuck with him). I don't mind 'retooling' for a few years, but I hope that they don't sink back to 2002 ineptitude either.

[Warning Track Power]

I'm conflicted on dealing Ramirez. I don't believe we're as far out of contending as a lot of people do. With even an average bullpen we are probably looking at a record of something like 53-49 and on the outskirts of contending instead of 46-56. Injuries to Gamel, Marcum and Gonzalez have hurt as well. Returning this team in 2013 with a retooled bullpen would probably put us in the mid 80s win range. Not great but good. As a small market in baseball, I don't mind being good.

 

The flip side of this is that Ramirez' contract is really unnecessary on this team right now. Paying whatever is left on that contract after 2012 is just bad business as I don't think we are likely to make the playoffs in 2013 or 2014 without some huge change in outlook (i.e. Greinke re-signing, Fiers sustaining his run, Axford returning to form and the bullpen in general becoming good and not just average). Given this I think the worst thing the Brewers can do is become the Bucks and strive for mediocrity. I'd rather see Green at 3B and get some kind of return on Ramirez today and ditch his contract.

[Oldcity]

It's like they're only willing to make the obvious move (Greinke) but nothing more. Ramirez serves no purpose on this team, as they aren't going anywhere with or without him. The contract after this season becomes a burden. There is no good reason not to trade him.

[ninja33]

He's only owed $10M next year. He has an .845 OPS which is what was expected....and there's always a purpose on a team for a hitter like that. If the team thinks they can compete next year, which looks unlikely....but with a fixed bullpen (very doable) they're not THAT far away, they can see what happens in the offseason in regards to the rotation. I don't think they're ready to punt on 2013 yet, and if that's the case Ramirez is a very solid and affordable piece to that team.

 

Not saying they can't trade him, just that they don't NEED to. If someone puts together a great offer, then you take it.

[zzzmanwitz]

I think the Brewers will wait to see if they can resign Greinke. If not, they will probably trade Ramirez in the off season.

[trwi7]

I really hope the delusion of possibly signing Greinke wouldn't hold them back from trading Ramirez if they have good offers.

[slappzilla]

Was just going to say the same thing myself, but didn't want to ruffle feathers by doing so...

[ninja33]

I really hope the delusion of possibly signing Greinke wouldn't hold them back from trading Ramirez if they have good offers.

 

I don't think it would. But if the offers are only OK (i.e. they feel like it's something they could also get in the offseason for him), then they'll wait to see what happens in free agency. And I don't mean delusions about signing Greinke, just the team/rotation they can put together in the offseason and how competitive it can be for 2013.

[RockCoCougars]

I don't see any urgency to make a deal today. Ramirez could very well have more value in the off season, once teams realize that Youkilis is the best free agent 3B on the market. Who knows, someone could get desperate in the next month (as cheap as teams have been during this 'trading season', I highly doubt that anyone will make a waiver claim).

[slappzilla]

I don't see any urgency to make a deal today. Ramirez could very well have more value in the off season.

his value right now is high as he's been scorching lately. Sure, he could keep up his current run, and stay healthy, but what if he doesn't? That's why you cash in now before it's too late or something happens.

 

I want the Brewers to put together a contender next year as bad as all of you do, but I'm sorry I just don't see a strong possibility of that happening. Patching holes needs to stop and rebuilding needs to start. Patching holes pushes mediocrity, and I don't want that. I want to build up to another title run like last year.

[RockCoCougars]

I don't see any urgency to make a deal today. Ramirez could very well have more value in the off season.

his value right now is high as he's been scorching lately. Sure, he could keep up his current run, and stay healthy, but what if he doesn't? That's why you cash in now before it's too late or something happens.

 

I want the Brewers to put together a contender next year as bad as all of you do, but I'm sorry I just don't see a strong possibility of that happening. Patching holes needs to stop and rebuilding needs to start. Patching holes pushes mediocrity, and I don't want that. I want to build up to another title run like last year.

 

The biggest issue for me in moving Ramirez right now is that too many teams (Phillies, Cubs, Marlins etc.) are desperately shedding salary right now. These salary dumps have definitely depressed the going rate on a veteran bat. Rightly or wrongly, if the Brewers put Ramirez on the block, it's going to be perceived as a salary dump and any middling prospects that they are offered back will most likely make it look that way in hindsight (if they were to pull the trigger).

[slappzilla]

It would be a salary dump though.

 

I don't see Aramis being worth what he will be paid after this year.

[ninja33]

I have zero problem paying Ramirez $10M next year. There's a pretty good chance he outperforms that. His 2014 $$ is probably too high, and definitely is when you factor in the buyout. He's still a good baseball player. If it was just a salary dump, than it can be just a salary dump next year too.

 

Again, I don't have a problem with trading him...but I don't see the urgency nor do I think a trade right now should be looked at as a salary dump. It should be to get better players. If the offers aren't great, you can wait until the offseason.

[slappzilla]

I guess I'm over-worried about a KRod like implosion.

 

KRod before this year had excellent career numbers, and last year for the Brewers he was mint.

 

Then this year, he fell apart, especially when it came time to trade him.

 

I fear that about Aramis. I don't know why, maybe cause of his age. Hopefully it's false/stupid fear and nothing like that happens, but the "build for the future, stop filling holes" in me says dump him now.

[RockCoCougars]

It would be a salary dump though.

 

I don't see Aramis being worth what he will be paid after this year.

 

I see where you are coming from and it's a valid point, but I just don't see the Brewers taking that route. Rightly or wrongly, I think that they are going to try to ride the coattails of last season as long as they can. They have a dearth of prospects that are going to be ready for the majors for the next few years, so if they start dumping payroll, we are likely in for at least three years of a bad team. Personally, I don't know if I want them dumping a guy who is still a pretty good player and then having more money burning a hole in their pocket for a subpar class of free agents this off season (there will be more teams bidding on mediocre players).