Red Sox Notebook: Cora high on Hanley; Kimbrel usage could change and more

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.  – The Red Sox are counting on Hanley Ramirez to bounce back from a poor season last year, and no one is more bullish on the veteran slugger than new manager Alex Cora.

“The last impression I had of him (was some) really good at-bats in October,’’ said Cora. “He was motivated. There’s a guy, when healthy and with motivation, he can be dangerous. I’ve been in contact with him. We’ve been talking. I’m looking forward to seeing his at-bats. There was something about his at-bats in October.

“I want to see that guy again. We saw it in Miami. We saw it with the Dodgers. We saw flashes in Boston. He’s going to be OK.’’

Ramirez underwent surgery on his chronic left shoulder in November and is expected to be ready for spring training. The shoulder was an impediment for Ramirez last year, but he has told friends that he feels better than he has in several years.

Ramirez’s contract includes a vesting option for 2019. Ramirez needs 497 plate appearances to guarantee himself $22 million for 2019, and ultimately, Cora, as manager, will have a large say in whether Ramirez reaches that figure.

“His performance is going to make me put that guy into the middle of that lineup,’’ projected Cora.

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Cora hinted that he'd be open to using closer Craig Kimbrel in high leverage spots other than the ninth inning.

"There's going to be certain games, yeah,'' said Cora. "I managed two games in the big leagues (filling in for A.J. Hinch in Houston) and I brought in (Astros closer Ken) Giles in the eighth. People get caught up in the whole high-leverage thing and bringing in a guy in earlier (scenario) calls for it. But you can't do that every day, either. We're going to recognize situations in some games (where it's worth doing). We'll talk to (Kimbrel). I think that the most important thing.

"I'm open-minded. I think we've got capable arms to get three outs in the seventh, three outs in the eighth and three outs in the ninth. And the way I see it, you have to patch up 27 outs. The way you do it is up to me and the coaching staff, but there are going to be certain situations where you're going to see (Kimbrel) earlier than you expect.''

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For the first time since Japanese pitcher/outfielder Shohei Ohtani chosen to sign with the Los Angeles Angels last week, the Red Sox spoke publicly about their interest in him and expressed their disappointment at not being considered more.

“It was something the organization worked on for a long time – a couple of people really focused on it for years,’’ said Dave Dombrowski. “ We made a very through (written and video) presentation, a  very strong presentation. I didn’t do the work myself, but I saw it and I thought the presentation was outstanding. So we were very invested.

“I will say that we were very surprised that we weren’t selected as a finalist.  I thought our presentation was outstanding. I thought we met a lot of criteria that was presented to us, of what was going to be important.  But it didn’t make any difference (in the end).’’

Of the seven teams which were finalists for Ohtani’s services, five were on the West Coast.

“We were told originally that (geography) wasn’t important,’’ Dombrowski, “but if you look at the final results, it looked like it was important.’’
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The Rule 5 Draft takes place Thursday morning, and with one spot open on their 40-man roster, the Red Sox have an opening should wish to draft a player. Under Rule 5 rules, a player must remain on the major league roster for the entire season, or be offered back to his original team or placed on waivers.

“We’ve discussed it,’’ said Dombrowski of the possibility of selecting someone.  “I can’t say it’s out of the question. But I wouldn’t say that we were going to draft anybody for sure, either.’’
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The Sox have hired someone to manage their Double-A affiliate at Portland in the Eastern League after promoting former manager Carlos Febles to the major league coaching staff, but aren’t ready to announce the hiring. ... The Sox have a number of players from the roster last year who are now free agents and Dombrowski said the team has “stayed in touch with some.’’ Likely included in that group:  first baseman Mitch Moreland, infielder Eduardo Nunez and perhaps lefty  Fernando Abad.