Hanley Ramirez, Red Sox Parting Ways

BOSTON, MA — In a seemingly out-of-nowhere move, the Red Sox are parting ways with slugger Hanley Ramirez. The team late Friday morning confirmed a Boston Globe report that it would designate Ramirez for assignment. Ramirez is the third-highest paid player on the team, making $22 million this year. Boston will likely still owe him the remaining $15 million on his deal.

Ramirez is now subject to waivers, meaning any team could claim him (though that is unlikely given his bloated price tag.) The Red Sox have seven days to trade or release Ramirez.

The move opens up a spot for Dustin Pedroia to return to the club. Pedroia has been on the disabled list since he had offseason knee surgery. He is expected to play his first game of the season Friday night at Fenway Park against Atlanta.

Ramirez, 34, has been the team's middle-of-the-order bat since he returned to Boston in 2014. He is in a prolonged slump that has resulted in him hitting .254 with six home runs this season. He has been the team's primary designated hitter since David Ortiz retired. He ends his Red Sox tenure with zero hits in his last 21 at-bats.

This move seemingly came out of nowhere, but it does avoid Boston needing to pay Ramirez another $22 million next season if he hits 497 plate appearances this season.

Ramirez played his first two career games with Boston as a 21-year-old in 2005, but he was soon traded to the Marlins in a trade that netted Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell. Those two would become key pieces of the 2007 World Series championship team.

Ramirez's best year came in Boston came in 2016, when he hit .286 with 30 home runs and 111 RBIs. Overall, Ramirez hit .260 with with 78 home runs for the Red Sox in 431 games.

(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)