The problem? They already have an All-Star shortstop. His name is Hanley Ramirez, and he's apparently not too excited.
Ramirez, who turns 28 this month, has been the centerpiece of the Marlins organization since 2006, and many have believed the team has steadfastly refused to trade him in recent years so that he would be a member of the Fish when their new stadium opened in 2012.
The problem now is that Ramirez, despite (by all outsiders' accounts) clearly being an inferior fielder to Reyes, doesn't want to switch positions and play third base, according to ESPN Deportes.
New manager Ozzie Guillen's already got a problem on his hands.
If Hanley causes a big enough stink, he could probably force himself out of town, so that he could play shortstop and be the superstar that he wants to be. His contract runs through 2014 and he does not have a no-trade clause, according to Cot's Contracts. At an average of $15.5 million per season, he's affordable to a team that needs a shortstop, and one place in baseball that is without a long-term shortstop, at the moment, is the Boston Red Sox.
Marco Scutaro holds down the spot currently, but he's under contract only for the 2012 season. Youngster Jose Iglesias is believed to be the shortstop of the future, but counting on prospects (particularly ones who have struggled mightily at the dish) is always a risky endeavor.
There's also this to consider: Ramirez has gained a reputation as somewhat of a prima donna. He famously fought with Dan Uggla in 2009, and Logan Morrison publicly expressed his frustration with Ramirez's lack of leadership. Ramirez was also benched in May after not going hard in the field.
Sounds a lot like another guy named Ramirez, doesn't it? The talent may not outweigh the headaches for many people.
If the Sox can obtain Hanley for a reasonable price, should they work to make a deal?
