McAdam: Designating Hanley signals increased commitment to Moreland, and perhaps, Swihart

In a stunning development, the Red Sox designated Hanley Ramirez for assignment on Friday, cutting ties with him before the end of his four-year, $88-million contract that never worked out for the team.

The Boston Globe was the first to report the story.

The Red Sox were in need of a roster spot with the pending return of second baseman Dustin Pedroia today, but speculation had centered around the team attempting to move catcher/utility man Blake Swihart, who has just 33 at-bats through the first 50 games.

Instead, the Sox cut ties with Ramirez, who had played 44 of the team's 50 games -- most often hitting third in their lineup -- and was tied for third on the team with 29 RBI.

Ramirez, 34, had been in a horrendous slump in May and was hitless in his last 21 at-bats, including an 0-for-4 showing with three strikeouts Thursday at Tropicana Field. After a strong April (.857 OPS), Ramirez has a slash line (batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging average) of .163/ .200/.300 for the month of May. In the aftermath of Thursday's 6-3 loss to Tampa Bay, manager Alex Cora expressed hope Ramirez would soon work his way out of his month-long funk with improved plate discipline.

The Red Sox now have seven days to trade or release Ramirez, as it's unfathomable that any team would take on the approximately $15 million he has remaining for this season as part of the final guaranteed year on his deal. Since the Red Sox will be responsible for that if he's not picked up elsewhere, they will likely signal a willingness to take back a good chunk of the remaining money to increase the chances of a deal.

However, further lessening Ramirez's value is the fact that he has a vesting option for another $22 million for 2019, which would trigger if he accumulated 497 plate appearances this season.  He currently has 195 plate appearances.

https://twitter.com/HanleyRamirez/status/1000061133670289408

If, as expected, Ramirez isn't traded, he'll almost certainly clear waivers. A team could them claim him and pay him the pro-rated minimum salary -- while the Red Sox responsible for the remaining $15 million -- while also getting out from underneath the vesting option for 2019, since Ramirez will, in effect, be signing a "new contract'' with that team.

The Red Sox' move was undoubtedly motivated by the fact that, by ridding themselves of Ramirez now, they avoid being saddled with that same onerous contract for 2019, or at the very least, putting themselves in the uncomfortable position of denying Ramirez's playing time later in the season so as to avoid the vesting option.

With Ramirez out of the picture, the Red Sox have effectively made Mitch Moreland an everyday player. Moreland has participated in just two-thirds of the team's games to date -- he sat out the first two games of the series in Tampa before getting a start Thursday and homering in his final at-bat -- but has the team's third-best OPS at 1.001, behind only Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez.

The Sox could explore getting Swihart, who has been unable to crack the lineup, some additional playing time at first in conjunction with Moreland. It's conceivable that the switch-hitting Swihart could be part of a platoon with the lefty-hitting Moreland.

It's also possible that Swihart could see increased opportunities at DH when Martinez plays left field, leaving the DH spot available.

Ramirez may have been hurt by his lack of versatility. Cora prefers to rotate players throughout his lineup to get regulars fresh, and Ramirez could only contribute at first (25 starts) or DH (19 starts). Meanwhile, others on the roster, including Swihart, Eduardo Nunez and Brock Holt, offer far more flexibility.

Since signing with the Red Sox after the 2014 season for a second stint in the organization -- he was originally signed as an international free agent and played briefly for the team late in 2005 before being traded to the then-Florida Marlins -- Ramirez was a flashpoint for controversy.

The decision by the organization to make him the team's everyday left fielder in 2015 proved disastrous. When Ramirez banged his shoulder against a wall early in 2015, he became tentative in the outfield and put little work into improving.

A move to first base in 2016 seemed to agree with him, and he was both more involved and engaged that season, responding with a bounce-back year at the plate, posting a .286/.361/.505 season with 30 homers and 111 RBI. But last year, recurring shoulder issues left him unable to contribute much at first base (18 games) and limited his ability to drive the ball (.242/.320/.429 with 23 homers and 62 RBI).

Ramirez underwent off-season shoulder surgery and the first month of the season reflected his improved physical condition. But his bat went cold again nearly four weeks ago, and the Sox evidently didn't relish the unappealing prospect of declining production and the risk of Ramirez vesting an expensive contract for next season.

When the question of the vesting option was brought up in spring training, Ramirez repeatedly downplayed any anxiety over his future, maintaining: "If I hit, I'll play.'' He also stressed that, in his 14th season in the big leagues and with his third organization, his primary motivation was a chance to win a title.

Now, if that happens, it will have to come elsewhere.