After weeks of speculation, the Boston Red Sox have finally come through. According to sources, the team agreed to five-year contracts with third baseman Pablo Sandoval and shortstop Hanley Ramirez on Monday.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported Ramirez's five-year deal with Boston last night. The 30-year-old signed on for $90 million, which was much less than he anticipated earlier this year when he was requesting $130 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers. He'll now return to the team he signed with as an amateur free agent to begin his MLB career.
Sources say Hanley's deal with #RedSox will be in range of five years, $90M.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 24, 2014
Boston was linked to Ramirez early in the offseason and as recently as a couple of weeks ago, but many were unsure if the Red Sox would seriously pursue him to play shortstop because of his questionable defensive ability and extensive injury history. They also have 22-year-old Xander Bogaerts at the position, but it appears they could be using him as a trade piece with the Philadelphia Phillies to acquire left-hander Cole Hamels.
Another Red Sox infielder is out of luck as well. Third baseman Will Middlebrooks will have to move over as the team reportedly agreed to a five-year deal with free-agent third baseman Pablo Sandoval. The deal is worth around $100 million, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. Last week Dennis O'Donnell of KPIX in San Francisco said the Red Sox had a "90 percent chance" of landing Sandoval.
icymi: pablo sandoval has deal with red sox for five years, close to $100M. https://t.co/fcWFWHAktp
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) November 24, 2014
Boston, once the deal is finalized, will have landed one of the most coveted free agents on the market. Sandoval was sought after by four other MLB clubs, including his incumbent San Francisco Giants team, who he won three World Series championships with. Sandoval's agent has yet to confirm the deal, but multiple media outlets have reported his decision.
If the Red Sox can land Jon Lester, it would be their third contract of at least $90 million handed out this offseason.
UPDATE: Ramirez's deal is a four-year, $88 million contract that includes a fifth-year option for $22 million.
