Report: Red Sox, Hanley Ramirez finalizing 4-year, $88 million deal
Hanley Ramirez is reportedly heading to Boston to finalize a four-year, $88 million deal with the Red Sox on Monday, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.
Rosenthal initially reported that the deal would "be in range of" five years, $90 million.
WEEI.com previously reported on Sunday that a deal between Ramirez and the Red Sox "could come together quickly."
Ramirez, 30, is a free agent after spending the last two-and-a-half seasons playing shortstop for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Red Sox have also reportedly offered free-agent third baseman Pablo Sandoval a five-year, $95 million deal; according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the team is "trying hard" to sign both. If both players do end up in Boston, Ramirez could move to left field while Sandoval remained at third base.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Ramirez is open to switching positions.
• Agent: Pablo Sandoval expected to make decision this week
Ramirez batted .283 with 13 home runs and 71 RBI in 128 games for the Dodgers last season. He came to Los Angeles in a July 2012 trade with the Miami Marlins, the team he had played for since 2006. Ramirez began his career with the Red Sox, signing with the club as an international free agent in 2000.
In addition to the Red Sox, the Seattle Mariners had also been among the clubs linked to Ramirez this offseason.
• What's He Really Worth: Hanley Ramirez is high reward, high risk
Ramirez made $16 million last season, the last of the six-year, $70 million extension he signed with the Marlins in 2008. The Dodgers extended Ramirez a qualifying offer earlier this month that he rejected.
- Mike Fiammetta
