It’s been a disappointing season for Alexei Ramirez with the San Diego Padres, and it’ll probably lead for the second straight season of his contract option being bought out.
Ramirez signed with the Padres after the Chicago White Sox preferred to pay him $1 million and buy him out, sending him into free agency. He signed a two-year deal with the Padres, which pays him $1 million in 2016, and potentially $4 million in 2017, but he can be bought out for $1 million, which seems to be the way they’re going.
Ramirez production over the last two seasons has really dropped off, not coming close to his 2014 All-Star season. He’s batting only .240 this year with a .605 OPS, hitting 5 home runs. He’ll be turning 35 in less than 3 weeks, and with the Padres moving on to younger players in the infield like Jose Rondon and Luis Sardinas, Ramirez is adjusting to playing right field.
He’s quite effective when it comes to lefties pitching against him, posting a .298/.350/.404 slash line, but his overall numbers just aren’t worth keeping around for $4 million, especially when he’s holding back the development of younger talent. Whether or not this season is his last in the major league is another question, and a team looking for some shortstop backup at a cheap price might go for Ramirez next season, but it’s not going to be the Padres.