Ramirez Demands Multi-Year Deal From Cubs
By Nick Collias [October 12 at 8:50pm CST]
The Cubs' most productive hitter has put the ball directly in new GM Theo Epstein's court. Three weeks after saying he'd probably played his last game in Chicago, Aramis Ramirez left open the possibility of a return in an interview with the Dominican newspaper El Caribe yesterday (link in Spanish). Nevertheless, the 33-year-old third basemen gave an ultiumatum that left no doubt of his willingness to test the open market.

"I'll head to free agency if they don't give me a contract of several years," Ramirez said. "I'm going to wait and see what the team does. Otherwise, I'm going to leave Chicago."

Despite a slow start in 2010, Ramirez finished the season leading the Cubs in OPS, on-base percentage, and most offensive counting statistics, and he was behind only Carlos Pena in HR and Starlin Castro in hits. Not known as a defensive force, Ramirez's UZR of -10.5 was toward the bottom of the National League, but he dominated nearly every offensive category among senior circuit third basemen and looks even better among those in the 2012 free agent class. Ramirez has previously expressed a desire to finish his career with the Cubs, and keeping him on-board looks like the first test facing Epstein's nascent front office.



Bye bye. Not worth a multi-year deal.

It's been nice knowing you Aram. Now take your act elsewhere.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

Who does he even ask? Is he leaving messages for Hendry still?

"Jheem, call mees back, is Aramis!"

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Take your under performing act and go. I remember how long it was the Cubs didn't have a good 3rd baseman until you arrived, Ramirez. You been good...you have not been great. See ya - ya idiot

Wow ... between launching Quade and showing Ramirez the door, looks like an easy first week for Theo Epstein-Barr-Topinka. Maybe we'll hit the trifecta with the demise of Crane Kenny.

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

That would be nice.

ESPNU is reporting that Jim Hendry is willing to offer a 6 yr, $120M deal with a full no trade and under performance incentives that could make it an 7yr $150M contract. It is being reported that Ramirez is also asking for partial club ownership and 4 weeks of in season vacation time. Hendry seems willing to meet Ramirez demands saying...."rami's a good guy".

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Proud to be UNVERIFIED.

IF I was GM , I would meet with Aramis and his agent and have them propose something to me that helps me when he bats .180 for April and May.

I dont expect that to sit well with them, but how long has Aramis been crying now to get a new deal? He knows they dont have a GM and is not going to see a deal until then.

Aramis not doing the best job of playing poker

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

The club just needs to invoke the final year of his contract (that ensures they get draft picks when he signs elsewhere) and then inform him that no extension will be forthcoming. Then Ram signs with some other team and Epstein has a couple draft picks to work some magic with.

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Go Cubs!!!!

For $16M, he may stick around.

who would the cubs play at 3rd once aram is gone? vitters cant seriously be ready for that. i dont think having aram around for one last year is that bad an idea. he can at least potentially bridge you to vitters or give you a chance to find i long-term solution over there.

Theo should give him 5 years with a full no trade clause. Lackey money. Spend Ricketts cash.

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Vitters will never, ever, ever play a game at 3rd base for the Cubs. LaMahieu would be the guy if ARam doesn't come back at the moment.

just to be clear, i agree with the theory of blowing up the remnants of this team where you can, but you have to have a plan. you cant just blow it up for the sake of blowing it up because it feels good. dj lemahieu? seriously? it is one thing if you have a guy ready to go that he is blocking, but evacuate him out of town to be replaced by who? you would have to have some sort of trade in mind or something to fill that hole.

That's an expensive bridge....

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It's on the new jobs bill.

ARam has been my favorite player since he showed up with the Cubs. His infield play has definitely
declined and he has had some injuries but I'd still love to have him if you can get him at a bargain
basement price. He wants multiple years which makes this difficult and I see Epstein just saying
screw it to avoid clubhouse problems with all the youngsters. Good luck ARam. He could definitely
help a contender somewhere it is just too bad that the Cubs won't benefit from it.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

Castro at 3rd, DJ at short, Barney at 2nd.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

You dont have to get rid of him but if he wants a new deal...you give him the audible laugh.

The thought of this makes me sick to my stomach.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

I'd love to see Youkilis at 3B

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He is going there or to 2nd at some point in time.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

He has neither the arm or accuracy to play 3rd. 2nd I could live with. Can Barney play OF?

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

Dont think he'll be available.


T Bone, what makes you sick about that infield?

I feel bad for the guy keeping the scorebook and all the errors he'll have to record. That is not a
MLB infield. I know it is going to be lean but you have to bring in someone real at 3rd.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

get rid of one older declining 3B for someone elses older declining 3b? there has to be better answer than that.

Oh, well I think Castro's future is at 3rd so I guess I figure start him there now

great, except that castro has never played 3rd except for a handful of games in the minors, and dj has only played about 50 games at short in his minor league career. thats the way you want to start off the "new look cubs"? have your best player move to a position he has never played and bring in a rookie to play a position he doesnt play? thats the left side of your infield that you want to build around?

IMO one of the most interesting things when Theo/new manager get to town is what they do with Castro. Do they project him as a SS and leave him there or do they move him to 2B or 3B?

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Castro better hit the weights if he wants to play 3rd. Also they need someone with a fishing net
playing 1st. Who is going to be working that one? I'm happy that we have our new GM but he
is gonna have his work cut out for him here. Kinda like playing Jenga... you pull one piece out
and the rest look that much more shaky. Who is even out there in free agency this year?

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami