RAMOS’ FUTURE
A free agent once the season ends, Ramos was about to cash in on a huge payday.
With his amazing year and weak overall free agent class, there were to be no shortage of offers for his service. Starting with the Atlanta Braves, Ramos was about to induce a bidding war. Contract negotiations with Washington started, but the Nats initial offer of three-years and $30 million, according to FanRag’s Jon Heyman.
Heyman assumes, correctly, Ramos wanted a deal closer to the five-years and $85 million the New York Yankees gave Brian McCann. He predicted the final bid would be in the neighborhood of four-years and $68 million.
That is long gone.
With a minimum of half of next year lost to rehab and training, no team will offer anything close to that. Remember, this is his second ACL injury to his right knee, and the LCL tore four years ago.
Despite an amazing season, this was the second time in his career he played over 100 games. Ramos either stays in Washington on a smaller multi-year deal or hopes some other team gives him the proverbial one-year “pillow” contract in hopes to turn a small deal into a larger one.
A fan favorite, expect him to take less money to stay and be assured of a role with the Nationals in next year’s stretch drive.