General FA: Beinfest Says Rotation Set

[Erick]

They could trade Kelly Johnson and put Lawrie at 2B/Bautista at 3B.

[MiamiHomer]

I thought they moved Lawrie from 2nd because he was terrible defensively there.

[Big Z]

for all the rhetoric and people reasoning why #Marlins should trade Hanley, let's be honest, do they really see H2R long term playing SS?

Frisario (twitter).

Don't understand Frisario, H2R is not a SS anymore, he's a 3rd basemen. H2R is too much of a big piece to trade, but I'm curious as to what the market for him might look like. The return could be sweet.

[MiamiHomer]

I'm pretty sure Frisaro meant that Hanley is going to end up at 3rd base sooner or later in that tweet.

[Big Z]

Probably

[Swifty]

It's a valid point, Hanley probably wasn't finishing the contract he signed with us at SS.

[Miamarlin21]

Teams with a "need" at short:

"Boston"
Minnesota
Oakland
Seattle
Tampa
Houston
New York (NL)
San Diego
San Francisco

[Ramp]

confused as to the quotes around Boston

[jOOj]

It isn't a real place.

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

Rosenthal wrote an article about why we should trade Hanley today but my phone won't let me copy it. I can't even get the URL link from my phone.

[MiamiHomer]

Yeah I saw it. I felt it was better not to post those shitty trade ideas.

[Ramp]

I don't even want to read this article as I'm sure it will only infuriate me...

I’ll believe Hanley Ramirez is the Miami Marlins’ Opening Day third baseman when I see it.

Nothing against the Marlins, who are saying all the right things about Ramirez’s importance to the team.

But c’mon.

Let’s drop the pretense: Trading Ramirez is the Marlins’ logical next move, one that could make the team even stronger.

The Marlins say they are talking with Ramirez, that he knows he’s the starting third baseman, that manager Ozzie Guillen will help convince him the move is best for the team.

And what does Ramirez say about his required adjustment after the Marlins’ signing of free-agent shortstop Jose Reyes to a six-year, $106 million contract?

Well, his only public comments since the Reyes deal came last Friday in a video interview at Disney World. The interviewer, bless her, asked Ramirez about his favorite Disney memories, but refrained from asking him about third base.

What would you expect at the happiest place on Earth?

“We’re moving ahead . . . getting some good ballplayers,” Ramirez said in a TwitVid posted by @DisneySports. “I think the front office is doing the best they can to put a good team on the field.”

Actually, I’m not sure an actual reporter could have done better. A source told me last week that while Ramirez has a strong preference to remain at short, he would handle matters with the Marlins professionally.

Why, then, are the Marlins putting up such a brave public front, heaping praise on Ramirez and insisting he will remain with the team?

Protecting his trade value would be one motivation.

The Marlins indicated a willingness to move Ramirez to at least one club early in the offseason, but they are not shopping him now, sources say.

Well, they need to wake up.

Ramirez, who turns 28 on Dec. 23, is too young to accept a move to third base. If anything, he has a point to prove in 2012 as he tries to recover from surgery on his left shoulder and the worst season of his career.

He isn’t Cal Ripken, who moved from shortstop to third at 36 when he no longer was agile enough to play in the middle of the diamond.

And he isn’t Alex Rodriguez, who made the switch at 28 only because he had no other way to get himself traded from the Texas Rangers to the New York Yankees.

Ramirez’s trade value is lower than it once was because of his shoulder, his sub-par performance last season and the $46.5 million remaining on the final three years of his contract. Some teams also believe that he is not a winning player.

But c’mon, he’s Hanley Ramirez.

“They shouldn’t have trouble finding a home for him,” one rival executive said. “And there’s enough interest to get a decent return.”

Here are six possible fits:

Red Sox: A trade for Ramirez would bring the player and team full circle.

New Sox GM Ben Cherington and current Cubs GM Jed Hoyer were Boston’s co-GMs under club president Larry Lucchino when the Red Sox sent Ramirez, righty Anibal Sanchez and two other minor leaguers to the Marlins for righty Josh Beckett, third baseman Mike Lowell and reliever Guillermo Mota on Nov. 24, 2005.

The Sox need two starting pitchers and a closer far more than a shortstop, but surely they would be tempted to reacquire Ramirez. Shortstop Marco Scutaro is eminently available, but the Marlins’ goal in any Ramirez trade would be to acquire a big bat and a starting pitcher.

Third baseman Kevin Youkilis could be the bat. The pitcher? Not so clear.

Tigers: The Tigers never bid for Reyes. They’re trying to acquire Athletics left-hander Gio Gonzalez. But a 3-4-5 of Ramirez, Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez would be lethal, and Jhonny Peralta could slide comfortably from shortstop to third base.

Angels: A team that actually has the pieces.

The Angels probably don’t want to trade right-hander Ervin Santana; the addition of free-agent left-hander C.J. Wilson gives them a powerhouse front four. But a combination of Santana and one of the Angels’ starting infielders surely would entice the Marlins. Second baseman Howie Kendrick would be ideal from the Marlins’ perspective, but probably not the Angels’.

Bobby Abreu and Torii Hunter were the Angels’ most frequently used 3-4 hitters last season. Ramirez and Pujols — or Pujols and Ramirez — would be a slight upgrade, don’t you think? What’s more, Pujols, Hunter and manager Mike Scioscia would be positive influences.

Nationals: A division rival, yes, but another team with enticing parts.

The Nationals are deep in young pitching, and they surely would include shortstop Ian Desmond or maybe even second baseman Danny Espinosa in a deal for Ramirez.

Think about a team built around Ramirez, right-hander Stephen Strasburg, right fielder Bryce Harper and third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, none of whom is older than 28.

Exciting stuff.

Giants: We know, we know — they’re putting most of their money into starting pitching, trying to sign right-handers Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain long term.

Brandon Crawford, a .204 hitter after 196 major-league at-bats, is projected to be the Giants’ shortstop. Start a package with right-hander Ryan Vogelsong and include one of the young first basemen, Brandon Belt or Brett Pill. The Marlins could trade Gaby Sanchez or play him at third.

Mariners: In the words of one rival executive, the M’s are “starving for offense and can’t get a free agent to sign there.”

If the Mariners acquired Ramirez and then signed free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder, they wouldn’t be starving for offense anymore. In fact, a trade for Ramirez might help persuade Fielder that the M’s are viable.

Ramirez and Fielder would form a young, potent middle of the order. To get Ramirez, the Mariners would need to break up their impressive stable of young arms, maybe even include righty Michael Pineda.

And the problem is what exactly?

The Red Sox, Tigers and Angels; the Nationals, Giants and Mariners — those are just six clubs with likely interest.

My complete list includes nearly 20 teams. And trust me, many of them would jump if the Marlins made Ramirez available.

Why wait any longer?

Drop the pretense. Trade Ramirez now, before any trouble starts.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/M...-others-121111

heh, wouldn't hate Youkilis and an arm

[Metes]

If they could get Pineda and Smoak from SEA I couldn't be all that upset

[HUGG]

Start a package with right-hander Ryan Vogelsong and include one of the young first basemen, Brandon Belt or Brett Pill. The Marlins could trade Gaby Sanchez or play him at third.

OMGYES! A 34 YEAR OLD STARTER WITH ONE GOOD SEASON AND A FUCKING FIRST BASE PROSPECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111


God, now I know why bobbob hates everything.

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

Thanks for posting it, Ramp.

I was on the fench about posting it, too. I only brought it up since we were talking about it. His trade ideas are really crazy/stupid. He needs to stick with posting trade rumors he gets from his sources.