Source: Red Sox Listening on Hanley Ramirez

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With their focus turned to trying to sign free-agent outfielder J.D. Martinez, the Boston Red Sox are listening to offers on first baseman Hanley Ramirez, according to a major-league source with knowledge of the situation. The signing of Mitch Moreland to a two-year deal — which was announced earlier this afternoon — complicated things for Ramirez, since there’s not much room for him on Boston’s 25-man roster.

Despite the team listening on and shopping Ramirez, the team has found no luck with finding a team that would take on him and his contract, according to Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston. While the Red Sox are willing to eat some of his contract, which guarantees the soon-to-be 34-year-old $22.75 million in 2018, the vesting option for 2018 that will vest if he clears 497 plate appearances and is worth $22 million complicates things.

If the Red Sox wanted to add J.D. Martinez via free agency, they would most certainly have to either move an outfielder, possibly Jackie Bradley Jr., or Hanley Ramirez, who is currently projected to be the team’s starting designated hitter come the start of the season. It would be ideal for Boston to sign Martinez, move Ramirez (ultimately eating up a portion of his contract) and keep their solid outfield core in tact.

In 133 games played in 2017 for the Red Sox, Ramirez posted a slash line of .242/.320/.429 over 553 plate appearances, along with 23 home runs, 24 doubles, 58 runs scored and 62 runs batted in, as well as an OPS+ of 95, which means he produced numbers that were below the league average. Over his 13-year big league career with the Boston Red Sox (2005, 2015-2017), Miami Marlins (2006-2012) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (2012-2014), he owns a .291/.362/.490 slash line, along with 263 home runs and 880 runs batted in.