The Boston Red Sox went shopping out west to help their offense and what we thought would help the left side of the infield. The Red Sox added 3B Pablo Sandoval from the San Francisco Giants and Hanley Ramirez from the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Boston introduced Sandoval yesterday, signing him to a 5-year $95 million deal with a $17 million club option for a sixth year, or a $5 million buyout. Sandoval won 3 championships with the Giants and was named World Series MVP in 2012.
He has a .344 batting average in the postseason, which is most in MLB history among players with at least 150 AB's. That is better than the likes of Carlos Beltran, George Brett, and Steve Garvey. This outstanding average includes a .426 average in 50 World Series plate appearances.
The 28 year-old's contract includes a team vesting option for 2020. He is listed at 5-foot-11 248 pounds, but says he does not plan to DH in his career. "Kung Fu Panda" is a career .294 hitter and had 16 home runs and 73 driven in, and hit .366 in the postseason.
Ramirez's deal was announced as a 4-year pact later Tuesday, and it looked as if Ramirez and Sandoval would run the left side of the infield. Instead of playing Ramirez at shortstop, the Red Sox announced that he will play in left field. For now, Xander Bogaerts remains the everyday shortstop for Boston.
Ramirez began his career in the Boston system before being traded in 2006 for Mike Lowell and Josh Beckett. He has dealt with some injuries throughout his stint in L.A, but had a .300 average with 13 homers and 71 RBI this past season.
Ramirez's deal is worth $88 million with a fifth-year vesting option for an additional $22 million. He will receive a $3 million signing bonus, earn $19 million the first season, and $22 million each successive year. Boston cleared cap space for Ramirez and Sandoval by designating Ryan Lavarnway and Juan Francisco for assignment.
Boston introduced Sandoval yesterday, signing him to a 5-year $95 million deal with a $17 million club option for a sixth year, or a $5 million buyout. Sandoval won 3 championships with the Giants and was named World Series MVP in 2012.
He has a .344 batting average in the postseason, which is most in MLB history among players with at least 150 AB's. That is better than the likes of Carlos Beltran, George Brett, and Steve Garvey. This outstanding average includes a .426 average in 50 World Series plate appearances.
The 28 year-old's contract includes a team vesting option for 2020. He is listed at 5-foot-11 248 pounds, but says he does not plan to DH in his career. "Kung Fu Panda" is a career .294 hitter and had 16 home runs and 73 driven in, and hit .366 in the postseason.
Ramirez's deal was announced as a 4-year pact later Tuesday, and it looked as if Ramirez and Sandoval would run the left side of the infield. Instead of playing Ramirez at shortstop, the Red Sox announced that he will play in left field. For now, Xander Bogaerts remains the everyday shortstop for Boston.
Ramirez began his career in the Boston system before being traded in 2006 for Mike Lowell and Josh Beckett. He has dealt with some injuries throughout his stint in L.A, but had a .300 average with 13 homers and 71 RBI this past season.
Ramirez's deal is worth $88 million with a fifth-year vesting option for an additional $22 million. He will receive a $3 million signing bonus, earn $19 million the first season, and $22 million each successive year. Boston cleared cap space for Ramirez and Sandoval by designating Ryan Lavarnway and Juan Francisco for assignment.
