The Los Angeles Dodgers are are aggressively pursuing White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez in trade talks, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports.
The Dodgers certainly have outfielders to move in any trade but have high a price tag on Matt Kemp, Nightengale adds.
As for the Mets, ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin believes that the Mets and White Sox have yet to have any conversations about Ramirez, disputing an earlier report by Bruce Levine of CBS Chicago.
Adding to the mixed messages is White Sox GM Rick Hahn, who doesn’t sound very motivated in trading Ramirez unless a team was willing to overpay. “It’s certainly not something we’re pursuing on our end.”
November 18
Bruce Levine of CBS Chicago reported last week, that the White Sox have heard from numerous major league clubs about the availability of shortstop Alexei Ramirez, and the Mets, Yankees and Dodgers are among the teams that have checked in.
Levine added that the Mets have been “the most aggressive in their pursuit of a shortstop over the past 12 months.”
“General manager Sandy Alderson has had his top scouts looking at shortstops such as Ramirez, the Cubs’ Starlin Castro and free agents Asdrubal Cabrera and Hanley Ramirez extensively this past season. The Mets also have exactly what the White Sox are looking for if they agree to move Ramirez.”
The White Sox covet right-handed power pitchers and Noah Syndergaard and Rafael Montero are reportedly at the top of that list, says Levine.
Ramirez, 33, is owed $10 million in both 2015 and 2016 (club option) and batted .273/.305/.408 last season. In 158 games he hit 15 home runs with 74 RBIs and 21 stolen bases. He leads all American League shortstops in base hits and RBIs since 2009.
(Updated 11/18)
