We heard earlier this week that the Red Sox are extremely interested in acquiring Aramis Ramirez. The Cubs are also at least listening to offers for Ramirez among other players. Aramis is expected to pick up his 14.6 million dollar player option for next season which included a 16 million dollar club option for 2012 and a 2 million dollar buyout. So he will come with a pretty high price tag, one the Cubs might have to pony some money on.
Also if the Cubs did trade Aramis Ramirez they would have a glaring hole at the hot corner with no one in house to replace. This brings up the latest rumors circling the web, the Cubs interest in Mark Reynolds. The D'backs are looking to get cheaper, younger, and more fundamentally sound in the field and at the plate. Kevin Towers wants to bring in small ball to Arizona, something he also preached in San Diego. The rumor is the club is looking to deal players like Stephen Drew and Mark Reynolds for young prospects.
Now, Jim Hendry and Kevin Towers have a good working relationship which is a bonus but the fact of the matter is they will have to get three teams involved which I have a feeling this is where this rumors spawned from. Here is what we are hearing.....
Cubs get Mark Reynolds
Dbacks get Jacoby Ellsbury
Red Sox get Aramis Ramirez
I can see why this would be a legit rumor. The Cubs will get a younger, more powerful, and better defensive 3rd baseman, the Red Sox will hope that Aramis Ramirez will have a bounce back year and player pepper with the Green Monster at Fenway, and the Dbacks would be getting a good defensive leadoff hitter that already joins one of the most exciting young outfielders in the game with Justin Upton. This would also possibly allow the Dbacks to trade Chris Young for some good pitching or exciting young infielders.
The hang up with have to be Aramis Ramirez no-trade clause but he would likely waive that to go to Boston where they would contend next season. Aramis could also enjoy some time in the DH role to keep him healthy the whole year. The only other hang up would be money. Jacoby is owed basically nothing and will receive his first year of Arbitration next season. But Reynolds is owed 13 million over the next two season and has a 11 million club option with a 500K buyout for 2013. Aramis is owed 14.6 million next season with a 16 million option or 2 million dollar buyout for 2012. So money will have to exchange hands. I could see the Cubs taking on the 7 million dollar owed to Mike Cameron for next season to balance out the money some but I have a feeling the teams will all have to pay a portion of the contracts that exchange hands.
It will be cool to see if this rumor gains steam because honestly I can say I like the deal for all teams involved.
I will keep you updated!
9 comments:
I would rather see the Cubs trade Him for Anthony Rizzo (1B) and Drake Britton (LHP) of Boston
No way this would be a good deal for the Cubs. While I am not opposed to moving Ramirez, if possible, getting Reynolds back would be a disaster. The guy strikes out over 200 times a season, this is way too much, even by Cubs standards, Granted he has a ton of power but he hasn't hit above .260 in 75% of his seasons in the bigs (This year he isn't even hitting .200.
If the Cubs are going to trade Ramirez to Boston, they need to go after Lars Anderson, the big left handed hitting 1b prospect or their stud switch hitting 3b prospect, Josh Bell.
Wow, being a Cub fan in AZ I would have to disagree 100%. Reynolds is nowhere near Ramirez defensively, now or ever!!!!!!
We do not want him in any way shape or form. He has done nothing but go backward the last 2 years.
I hope not Reynolds had 216 strike outs so far, And is hitting .198.
This trade trade would be one of worst of Jim Hendry's career if it were to ever come to materialization.
Get one thing straight, the only advantage Reynolds has on Ramirez is that he is younger.
Other than that the Cubs would be getting a terrible baseball player. Reynolds is not even going to finish the year with a batting average above .200. Who cares about the 32 home runs, when he strikes out in all his other times at the plate.
Why in the hell would the Cubs do this trade?
No, thank you on Reynolds. Yes, he has lots of power, but he's a strikeout machine (over 200 strikeouts each of the last three years; he's striking out 35% (!) of the time).
On the other hand, I'd do a deal for Jacoby Ellsbury in a second --- not much power, but he has the makings of a perennial .300 hitter / .355 OBP / 60 SB. He would (FINALLY!) solve our lead-off hitter problem ...
A-Ram is one of our few remaining chips. If we trade him, it shouldn't be just for another 3B; we should be using him to fill a hole in the team.
what makes u think the red sox would trade ellsbury? I would rather have him over reynolds anyway.
If Boston wants Aramiz that bad, they should offer top front atleast 75% of the money ,and in return I would love to see Josh Bell and Jacoby Elsbury come our way.
I would guess the Red Sox will try to bring Beltre back instead of getting ARam. The whole thing doesn't make much sense.
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