Hanley Ramirez Should STAY with the Red Sox

I know once you read that statement you were thinking that this guy is crazy, but hear me out. Hanley had a terrible injury plagued year last year for the Red Sox. It was his first year of a monster contract for someone like him so of course the pressure is high. They tired to get him in left field so they could have his bat but that was a disaster. He had a great april but once he hit the wall in the beginning of may, Hanley was never the same. He was injured and probably played through the pain. I think once he is healthy he will do much better.

This year, as the new first baseman, Hanley will be improved. Hopefully, he will be an average first baseman. I do believe him when he said that this will be easier for him because he was an infielder his whole career. I think shortstop is harder to play than first base so if can do that then first base will be more natural. It won't be a perfect fit but he will do much better then he ever did in left field. If he can be average and produce to what he is capable of then the Red Sox will be ecstatic. No one would care for his subpar defense if he can produce huge numbers. Hanley had produced in the big time before. In the two and a half seasons Hanley played with the dodgers he hit an average of .299 with 14 home runs and 57 rbis. That is a pretty god hitter. He also didn't play in all 162 games. His highest was in 2014 where he played in 128 games. The Red Sox knew that he wouldn't play in all the games when he signed the contract. Travis Shaw is an excellent backup ,with a lot of potential, who can fill in for Hanley when he needs a day off. With his time in the big market of LA, Hanley has proved he can hit. If he stays HEALTHY, he will produce. It also helps when he has his friend and mentor, Big Papi, to keep him on the right track this season.

Speaking of Big Papi, his retirement helps Hanley a lot. Every Red Sox fan will be sad that his huge bat and great personality will be gone but now Hanley will have a spot on the team that truly fits him. DH! Hanley is a perfect person to be a Designated Hitter. He would not have to play the field at all so hopefully he would stay healthy for the whole season. The Red Sox paid him for his bat so if can be a DH and used for his bat then that would be great. Wait it out for one more season Red Sox Nation and then Hanley will be truly in the right place.