Marlins, Ramirez Close to Extension

[reds44]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/baseball/marlins/sfl-0509ramirez,0,3463470.story

 

Lambasted for their major league-low $21 million payroll and perpetual trading of star players, the Marlins are finally keeping one in the fold.

 

Shortstop Hanley Ramirez told an acquaintance he has agreed to the framework of a six-year, $70 million extension. That ranks as the richest contract in franchise history, topping the six-year, $61 million deal Gary Sheffield received in April 1997.

 

Ramirez's contract is pending a physical and an official announcement might not come until early next week.

 

Marlins President David Samson and President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfest had no comment late Friday. Andy Mota, Ramirez's Weston-based agent, could not be reached.

 

The Marlins are believed to have initiated talks during spring training, but a deal did not appear imminent. Last month, Ramirez, 24, said he didn't think the two sides would engage in serious discussions until the offseason.

 

Ramirez, who is making $439,000, would have been eligible for arbitration after this season. Well on his way toward another stellar campaign and further establishing himself among the game's best offensive players, Ramirez likely would have commanded a 2009 salary in the $8.5 million range.

 

Though set for life with this deal, Ramirez sacrificed millions for the financial security. Had he waited until after the season, he justifiable could have asked for $90 million-plus to give up three years of arbitration and an additional three years of free agent eligibility.

 

While the deal is not believed to contain any no-trade provision, locking up Ramirez to such favorable terms all but assures the Marlins will open their new downtown Miami ballpark in 2011 with their superstar in the lineup.

 

The Marlins have been late to join what over the last several seasons has become a baseball-wide trend of buying out the arbitration years and in some cases multiple free agent years of young players.

 

The Ramirez contract would be the first multi-year agreement the Marlins have awarded since January 2005, when Carlos Delgado agreed to a four-year, $52 million free agent pact. The Marlins ended up paying for $11 million of that contract, which was transferred to the Mets in a trade before 2006.

 

That same January also marked the last time the Marlins signed one of their own players to a multi-year extension. Paul Lo Duca, who was a five-plus arbitration-eligible player at the time, received a three-year, $18 million commitment. Like Delgado, Lo Duca also was traded to the Mets after the first year of that deal.

 

Since 2006, every team in baseball except the Marlins had signed at least one free agent or extended the contract of one of its own players for multiple years.

 

Having traded superstar Miguel Cabrera and ultra-popular left-hander Dontrelle Willis last offseason, the Marlins might have sabotaged their chance of excelling in a new facility had they moved Ramirez as well.

 

In a little more than two seasons since the Marlins acquired him from the Red Sox as part of the Josh Beckett-Mike Lowell blockbuster, Ramirez has become one of the game's standout players. He won National League Rookie of the Year honors in 2006 and last season he finished with the second most hits in the NL (212) behind Rockies outfielder and MVP runner-up Matt Holliday (216).

 

Ramirez again is among the league leaders with a .336 average, which ranks second to Rafael Furcal among major league shortstops. He's a good bet to represent the Marlins at the All-Star game later this summer at Yankee Stadium.

 

Staff Writer Harvey Fialkov contributed to this report.

 

 

[badnews]

Young players have really stupid agents apparently. The Marlins are probably the dead last team in baseball to deserve any kind of loyalty at all.

[Bote McBoteface]

That writer sucks ass.

[17 Seconds]

Man, what is it with the Florida teams locking up their young stars for ridiculously good contracts this season? Okay, there have only been 2, but still.

[CubColtPacer]

Anybody find it kind of strange that the deal is contingent on a physical? The Marlins trainers are with him every day, and he's been playing.

 

If this really is for 3 years of arbitration and 3 years of free agency, then I don't know what Hanley is thinking. He should have figured out some sort of way to get a 4 year deal.

 

If the extension starts now, then it's a pretty fair deal overall.

[shnsajax]

Anybody find it kind of strange that the deal is contingent on a physical? The Marlins trainers are with him every day, and he's been playing.

 

If this really is for 3 years of arbitration and 3 years of free agency, then I don't know what Hanley is thinking. He should have figured out some sort of way to get a 4 year deal.

 

If the extension starts now, then it's a pretty fair deal overall.

 

Legal reasons, make sure he doesn't have any unknown illnesses, injuries, etc.

 

Nothing wrong with the deal on Hanley's side, I am willing to bet he came from almost nothing and he is only losing 3 years of FA. Three weeks from if he didn't sign the extension and had a season ending injury people would be making fun of him for not taking the $70 million guaranteed and calling him greedy. He has security for the rest of his life and his kids life, and his grandkids life, I don't blame him one bit .

[javy knows my name]

Two thoughts: 1) :shock: 2) that is an effing steal

[SouthSideRyan]

True or False: Larry Beinfest is the best GM in baseball.

[javy knows my name]

True or False: Larry Beinfest is the best GM in baseball.

Anyone who works for Jeff Loria gets ridiculous props from me. I'd still give the honor to Dave Dombrowski

[reds44]

True or False: Larry Beinfest is the best GM in baseball.

Larry Beinfest isn't the Marlins GM anymore, that would be Michael Hill.

[BleacherBadger]

Two thoughts: 1) :shock: 2) that is an effing steal

 

My initial thoughts: a) NOOOO. b) that is a huge steal. $11m or so a year for one of the best players in baseball?

[Post Count Padder]

Since when do the Marlins actually keep their players?

[sneakypower]

i dunno 7 year years is an awful long time...

[CoolHandLuke]

True or False: Larry Beinfest is the best GM in baseball.

Larry Beinfest isn't the Marlins GM anymore, that would be Michael Hill.

 

That may be technically correct, but I think its just because of the titles that the marlins use. Beinfest is still the one making the baseball decisions.

[inari]

Wrong thread.

[17 Seconds]

True or False: Larry Beinfest is the best GM in baseball.

I'd still give the honor to Dave Dombrowski

 

I don't know... that Jurrjens+ for Renteria trade isn't looking very good right now, especially for a team desperate for pitching.

[nilodnayr]

Anybody find it kind of strange that the deal is contingent on a physical? The Marlins trainers are with him every day, and he's been playing.

 

If this really is for 3 years of arbitration and 3 years of free agency, then I don't know what Hanley is thinking. He should have figured out some sort of way to get a 4 year deal.

 

If the extension starts now, then it's a pretty fair deal overall.

 

Legal reasons, make sure he doesn't have any unknown illnesses, injuries, etc.

 

 

Also, to get the contract insured.

 

Maybe Hanley realizes how godawful his defense is?

[shnsajax]

Anybody find it kind of strange that the deal is contingent on a physical? The Marlins trainers are with him every day, and he's been playing.

 

If this really is for 3 years of arbitration and 3 years of free agency, then I don't know what Hanley is thinking. He should have figured out some sort of way to get a 4 year deal.

 

If the extension starts now, then it's a pretty fair deal overall.

 

Legal reasons, make sure he doesn't have any unknown illnesses, injuries, etc.

 

 

Also, to get the contract insured.

 

Maybe Hanley realizes how godawful his defense is?

 

yeah, thats probably the main reason.

[javy knows my name]

Anybody find it kind of strange that the deal is contingent on a physical? The Marlins trainers are with him every day, and he's been playing.

 

If this really is for 3 years of arbitration and 3 years of free agency, then I don't know what Hanley is thinking. He should have figured out some sort of way to get a 4 year deal.

 

If the extension starts now, then it's a pretty fair deal overall.

 

Legal reasons, make sure he doesn't have any unknown illnesses, injuries, etc.

 

 

Also, to get the contract insured.

 

Maybe Hanley realizes how godawful his defense is?

 

yeah, thats probably the main reason.

 

So why not wait for arbitration and sign a fat deal with an AL team?

[XZero771679666304]

I don't know why Hanley would do this, but if there isn't a NTC, this could be a very self-serving move for the Marlins.

 

The guys on BBTN were praising the move as setting a foundation, but I'm not buying it. All I was thinking was how much more they could get in trade for him with a bunch of years left on a bargain contract. And by bargain I mean bargain for big market clubs.

 

How much could they get for one of the best players in the game with 5 or 6 years left at below market value?

[Vanilla Ice]

I'm thinking there is a clause that would make the value go up significantly if he is traded

[shnsajax]

I don't know why Hanley would do this, but if there isn't a NTC, this could be a very self-serving move for the Marlins.

 

The guys on BBTN were praising the move as setting a foundation, but I'm not buying it. All I was thinking was how much more they could get in trade for him with a bunch of years left on a bargain contract. And by bargain I mean bargain for big market clubs.

 

How much could they get for one of the best players in the game with 5 or 6 years left at below market value?

 

At what point though would the Marlins even consider trading him 2 years till FA, 1 year till FA? There really is no bunch of years on a bargain contract if he is going through arbitration every single season. At that point anyways I am sure the team would want an extension on him as well. Why would the Marlins want to trade him when they could lock him up now. At some point they have to start keeping a couple of guys.