Ramirez declines option

[Transmogrified Tiger]

@cst_cubs Cubs exercise Ramirez's $16M option for '12. Ramirez informs club he'll decline. Cubs secure sup.draft pick comp.

 

http://twitter.com/#!/cst_cubs/status/13085130176765132

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

That's good that the pick is in play. I like Ramirez, but whether he's here or not the Cubs will play.

[Guest]

@cst_cubs Cubs exercise Ramirez's $16M option for '12. Ramirez informs club he'll decline. Cubs secure sup.draft pick comp.

 

http://twitter.com/#!/cst_cubs/status/13085130176765132

Wouldn't they still have to offer arbitration to get the compensation? Merely exercising the option isn't enough.

[WrigleyField 22]

@cst_cubs Cubs exercise Ramirez's $16M option for '12. Ramirez informs club he'll decline. Cubs secure sup.draft pick comp.

 

http://twitter.com/#!/cst_cubs/status/13085130176765132

Wouldn't they still have to offer arbitration to get the compensation? Merely exercising the option isn't enough.

That would be my understanding, but its also kind of a no brainer to do so. Writer is probably making the short/quick assumption there. I'd rather have him back than a pick, though it ultimately come down to cost.

[Guest]

Interesting quote from Sullivan's article:

While Ramirez said he wanted to stay in Chicago and his agent said the Cubs would be on his "short list" of teams, it's doubtful he will return since the Cubs prefer draft picks. They also save the $2 million buyout when Ramirez officiall declines his part of the option.

The Cubs might actually have a couple more million dollars to play with than I thought this offseason if Sullivan is correct.

[Sammy Sofa]

Man, I'm a little bummed I'll likely never see Aramis play for the Cubs again.

[Guest]

There might be some loophole with dual options like that I'm unaware of, but that's probably right. If they're willing to go from 14.6 to 16 million for one year, there's zero reason for them to be afraid of offering arbitration, especially with Ramirez turning down his option.

[Guest]

Muskat confirms:

 

Aramis Ramirez appears headed for free agency. The Cubs announced Sunday night that they will exercise their side of the $16 million option for 2012, and the third baseman has two days to declare his interests. However, a source said Ramirez has told the Cubs he will decline the option and explore free agency. If Ramirez does that, the Cubs will not have to pay him the $2 million buyout.

[Guest]

There might be some loophole with dual options like that I'm unaware of, but that's probably right. If they're willing to go from 14.6 to 16 million for one year, there's zero reason for them to be afraid of offering arbitration, especially with Ramirez turning down his option.

I'm sure it's just a formality. I'm just being picky, I guess.

[Sammy Sofa]

http://static.sportressofblogitude.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/farewll-sweet-prince.jpg

[UMFan83]

It's so weird to read the line "the Cubs prefer draft picks".

 

Is Ramirez a type A or type B? Due to his bad 2010, I know it was going to be close.

[Outshined_One]

So, what alternatives should the Cubs explore if they do not re-sign Ramirez?

 

I'm having trouble seeing how the Cubs replace his production come 2012.

[Outshined_One]

It's so weird to read the line "the Cubs prefer draft picks".

 

Is Ramirez a type A or type B? Due to his bad 2010, I know it was going to be close.

 

Projected Type B, although it's close to being border A/B.

[Guest]

In the last MLB Trade Rumors projections, Ramirez was the 4th highest Type B player in the "NL 2B-SS-3B" grouping.

[17 Seconds]

http://static.sportressofblogitude.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/farewll-sweet-prince.jpg

 

:(

[SABR Gamer]

Man, I'm a little bummed I'll likely never see Aramis play for the Cubs again.

 

Same here, he has been a huge part of the Cubs over the past decade, in a good way.

 

- His 2 out, bottom of the 9th, come from behind, walk-off 2-run HR vs the Brewers in 07

http://chicagosportsnews.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/cubs-med.jpg

 

- His two HR game including a walk off vs White Sox in 08

http://www3.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/Chicago+White+Sox+v+Chicago+Cubs+-k8ijiVQA7Vl.jpg

MLB.com Video

 

- His 11th inning walk off HR against the Cardinals in 09 in April before we knew 09 wasn't going to be 08 part 2.

http://mlblogsvineline.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/ramirez20walkoff1.jpg

MLB.com Video

 

Those were some of the coolest moments in the last 5 years of Cubs baseball.

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3054/2896880791_7d13955a46.jpg

 

I hope he's back but if he isn't I will surely miss him.

 

Thanks Aramis.

[javy knows my name]

http://static.sportressofblogitude.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/farewll-sweet-prince.jpg

 

:(

 

I was gonna do that. Really one of my favorite Cubs ever.

 

I hope this means we tender him a team-friendly contract. No idea who would play 3B in his absence.

[Sammy Sofa]

- His 11th inning walk off HR against the Cardinals in 09 in April before we knew 09 wasn't going to be 08 part 2.

http://mlblogsvineline.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/ramirez20walkoff1.jpg

MLB.com Video

 

Huh. I had never seen that pic until now. Now I need a bigger version for my desktop. SOMEBODY HELP ME.

[sneakypower]

So, what alternatives should the Cubs explore if they do not re-sign Ramirez?

 

I'm having trouble seeing how the Cubs replace his production come 2012.

trade for:

Ian Stewart/Matt Carpenter/Conor Gillaspie

 

still prefer resign him on a 2- or 3-year deal

[Guest]

I'd really like him back on a two year deal. I'm not sure I'd want to go three, though. I just don't trust him to play 150+ games a year for a whole lot longer.

[SABR Gamer]

- His 11th inning walk off HR against the Cardinals in 09 in April before we knew 09 wasn't going to be 08 part 2.

http://mlblogsvineline.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/ramirez20walkoff1.jpg

MLB.com Video

 

Huh. I had never seen that pic until now. Now I need a bigger version for my desktop. SOMEBODY HELP ME.

 

 

Found it at http://vineline.mlblogs.com/tag/aramis-ramirez/ doing a Google image search. Only place I saw that picture. It's near the bottom of the page, maybe contact Vine Line about the photo?

 

BTW, who even reads Vine Line?

[Sammy Sofa]

I did 20 years ago.

[SABR Gamer]

I'd really like him back on a two year deal. I'm not sure I'd want to go three, though. I just don't trust him to play 150+ games a year for a whole lot longer.

 

 

Agreed, I also can see Aramis really fall off around 35. His power has already basically been in decline for 7 years already. I don't know if I want to pay 36 year old Aramis ~$13 million.

 

AB/HR

 

2005: 14.9

2006: 15.6

2007: 19.5

2008: 20.5

2009: 20.4

2010: 18.6

2011: 21.7

[Guest]

I'd really like him back on a two year deal. I'm not sure I'd want to go three, though. I just don't trust him to play 150+ games a year for a whole lot longer.

 

 

Agreed, I also can see Aramis really fall off around 35. His power has already basically been in decline for 7 years already. I don't know if I want to pay 36 year old Aramis ~$13 million.

 

AB/HR

 

2005: 14.9

2006: 15.6

2007: 19.5

2008: 20.5

2009: 20.4

2010: 18.6

2011: 21.7

To be fair, his power declined between 2006 and 2007, then it's held pretty steady since then.

[Rob]

It's sad to see him go, but 3B is the hole we can best fill with internal options. I could probably make a pretty good case for a DeWitt/Baker platoon being only a win or so worse than Aramis. Vitters, Flaherty, LeMahieu, Marquez Smith, and even Marwin Gonzalez could also be potential positive contributors, though I wouldn't project any of that crew particularly close to 3.6 WAR. The Angels might make Alberto Callaspo available fairly cheaply (and he may actually may approach 3.6 WAR). In addition, there's a few other cheaply available guys like Kevin Kouzmanoff who might be worth taking a flier on.

 

1B and the front of the rotation are more pressing needs, as we have no real options to fill those spots.