Hanley

Ramirez

Ramirez, 19, is considered a shortstop prospect on par with Jose Reyes of the Mets and Brandon Phillips of Cleveland. He posted a 941 OPS at Single-A in 458 ABs in 2002. The only question is his attitude.

With Edgar Renteria signed for four years, Ramirez wouldn’t seem to have any future at shortstop in the organization. Still, keeping him at the position is the right idea. Anything else could weaken his trade value.

Ramirez was sent from Single-A Augusta to short-season Lowell, which doesn’t begin play until June 17. Depending on how Ramirez responds, it’s likely he’ll be back at Augusta within a week or so. ''He’s a little immature,’' Epstein said of Ramirez. The Sox did not say to whom Ramirez’s gesture was directed, but they probably would have let it slide had he not cursed at a team trainer in the Instructional League last fall.

Ramirez was released by the Indians in late April after batting just .184/.298/.327 in 16 games, and he has been a free agent ever since. Now this shoulder procedure ensures that he will remain a free agent through the end of the 2019 campaign. The 35-year-old is reportedly hoping to continue his playing career in 2020, but offers may be hard to come by -- even minor league ones.

MLB Trade Rumors passed along word of the decision via the Triple-A International League transactions page. Ramirez opted against an outright assignment from the Indians after being designated for assignment on Saturday. The 35-year-old struggled during his time with Cleveland, batting just .184/.298/.327 with two homers over 16 games. It’s fair to wonder if this could be the end of the road for him.

He is a casualty of Francisco Lindor’s return from the injured list. Ramirez was getting a good amount of playing time for the Indians but wasn’t able to capitalize on it. He batted just .184/.298/.327 with two home runs and eight RBI in 57 plate appearances.

Ramirez’s first and only hit of the afternoon came in the sixth inning when he laced a two-out double off Detroit hurler Matthew Boyd. Leonys Martin scored from second on the play, cutting the deficit to 2-1, though the Tigers would add two more later in the frame. Ramirez reached again in the eighth, working a two-out walk against Joe Jimenez. The 35-year-old has underwhelmed in the early going, hitting just .222 with 11 punch-outs in 27 at-bats.

It’s a simple day off. Jake Bauers is in the designated hitter spot and Greg Allen is in left field.

Hanley was hitless with two strikeouts in three at-bats before salvaging his day with a ninth-inning homer off Pale Hose reliever Nate Jones. The veteran DH spent most of last season out of the league and hasn’t shown much in the early going outside of his two homers, struggling to a .235 average with seven strikeouts in only 17 at-bats. The former NL batting champ doesn’t carry much fantasy worth at this point, though he should continue to see regular at-bats for the short-handed Indians.

Ramirez tagged Twins’ starter Jake Odorizzi for a solo shot in the fourth inning to get the Indians on the board. That was the only hit they would get against Odorizzi through six innings. Ramirez also singled and drew a pair of walks in the contest, reaching base safely in each of his four plate appearances. It’s only been a couple of games, but the early returns look extremely encouraging for the 35-year-old slugger.