Hanley Ramirez Could Prove Los Angeles Dodgers Odd Man Out

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All the talk around the Los Angeles Dodgers seems to involve money in one way or another. On one hand we have the millions and millions of dollars that keep going out the window in record amounts and on the other hand we have information that suggests the boys in blue might fork over the necessary dollars to bring in Masahiro Tanaka. That will come down to a few other teams as well but with all of this money flying around where does Hanley Ramirez stand?

I have little doubt about the Dodgers opinion of Ramirez. He was the turbine that started the Dodgers amazing engine rolling through the rest of the National League last season even if Yasiel Puig was the spark. None of that happens without the explosive return of Ramirez from the disabled list. He carried the offense to such a point that it would not be overstepping to suggest his rib injury might very well have cost them the NLCS.

Yet, with all of this considered, he still has a contract that expires after the upcoming season and there are no reports of the sides being close to reaching a deal. Ramirez could be one player like so many others that doesn’t like discussing contracts during the season. That means the Dodgers being in early stages of talking might not leave them enough time to complete the new deal with Ramirez before the season starts.

What could that do to the Dodgers? There is no way to say for certain but I would be willing to assume the Dodgers lofty opinion of Ramirez might not be quite as lofty as the target that his agents and his people hold theirs. The Dodgers have others in their system on the way at shortstop but no one that looks to be another Hanley-type player right now. Time will tell what happens but whether or not they get a deal done before the start of the season could be a very big deal.

David Miller is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @davidmillerrant, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google