The Boston Red Sox requested unconditional release waivers on Hanley Ramirez, as noted by the MLB.com transactions page. Ramirez, who was designated for assignment late last week in a surprise move, will not be traded and is now all but certain to hit free agency.

Ramirez is technically eligible to be claimed by any club within the next 48 hours, though he almost certainly won't be. Any claiming team would have to take on the remainder of Ramirez's contract, which calls for more than $15 million in guaranteed money this season and includes a $22 million vesting option for 2019. If no team claims Ramirez, he will simply become a free agent on Friday and will be immediately eligible to sign with any team for the major-league minimum (with the option no longer part of the equation).

Ramirez, who got off to a torrid start in April before a May slump that ultimately played a major role in his release, has already been linked to a few clubs that could be in the market for a veteran bat.

Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune argued that the White Sox should take a flier on Ramirez, while The Athletic's Jim Bowden listed the Rockies, Indians and Twins as potential landing spots.

Ramirez, now 34, will likely latch on with a club soon, likely by the end of next week. On the season, he's hitting .254/.313/.395 with six homers in 44 games while seeing time at first base and designated hitter.