Major League Baseball News

For the last decade, the Florida Marlins organization has been all but loyal to its young bright stars. However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. On Wednesday, Hanley Ramirez and the Florida Marlins came to terms on a 6 year deal worth $70 million. Ramirez looks to be staying in Florida to help keep the Fish winning. Off to a great start, the Marlins must believe Hanley Ramirez is responsible for much of their early success. Moving from lead off batter to 3rd on command, Ramirez has amassed 9 Home Runs and 13 Stolen Bases while batting .330 through the first month and a half of the season.

Ramirez would have been eligible for arbitration at the end of the season, a reality that the Marlins were not ready to face. With Ryan Howard settling for a record $10 million, experts estimate Hanley could have been worth $12 after the hearings, which is right around the price the Marlins locked up arguably the best player in baseball for the next 6 years. Ramirez is the first player in MLB history to bat .300 and steal 50 bases in his first 2 seasons. He also showed signs of developing power, hitting 29 Home Runs last year as the lead off batter.

Hanley also won the NL Rookie of the Year in ‘06, and is on pace to become only the 4th player in MLB history to hit 40 Home Runs and swipe 40 stolen bases. The others are Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, and Jose Canseco. Look for the Marlins to only get better by the minute as Hanley Ramirez becomes one of the greatest baseball players to ever play the game.