Marlins Trade Disappointing Hanley Ramirez to Dodgers

Infielder Hanley Ramirez had two key hits in his debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers. (Dilip Vishwanat)

When Hanley Ramirez came up with the Miami Marlins, many thought the uber-talented shortstop would be baseball's next premier superstar. From 2006-2010, it appeared that would be the case. Over that span of time, Ramirez led major league shortstops with 124 home runs and a .521 slugging percentage. He is a former NL Rookie of the Year, three-time All-Star, and NL batting champion. All signs seemed to point to a prosperous and promising career.

Unfortunately, last season turned out to be a lost cause for Ramirez. Battling injuries and struggles at the plate, he saw major regression. In the offseason, the Marlins signed star shortstop Jose Reyes to a big contract. Ramirez agreed to move to third base to make room for Reyes. The Marlins hoped Ramirez and Reyes would add the one-two punch they needed to lead their offense. However, Ramirez's struggles continued this season. The Marlins tried everything they could, but finally their patience with Ramirez ran out.

They began to quietly shop Ramirez to see what they could get in return. The Los Angeles Dodgers have had an up-and-down season. They got off to a blistering start, before struggling through some injuries and cold hitting. With players getting healthier, the Dodgers are in a battle with the San Francisco Giants for first place in the NL West. Looking for a spark for their lineup, the Dodgers decided to inquire about Ramirez. The two sides talked through some options and worked out a deal.

The Marlins traded Ramirez and left-handed reliever Randy Choate for young starting pitcher Nate Eovaldi and minor-league right-hander Scott McGough. Eovaldi made his major league debut last season. He hasn't looked particularly dominant, but he is still only 22 years old. Choate will help bolster the Dodgers bullpen. He is a lefty specialist who is capable of getting outs when needed.

In his debut with the Dodgers tonight, Ramirez had a great game. In the first inning, he tripled off the wall for his first hit as a Dodger. He later came home to score. During the sixth inning, the Dodgers called on Ramirez for a clutch hit. He delivered with a RBI single to tie the game. It was a solid debut for Ramirez, who will play shortstop for the time being. When former Dodgers starting shortstop Dee Gordon returns from injury, it is expected that he will shift back to third base.

There is no doubt that the Dodgers took a chance by making the deal for Ramirez. There's certainly a chance that his struggles will continue. What they hope is that a chance of scenery could make a difference. If Ramirez is able to regain his All-Star form, this trade is an absolute steal for the Dodgers. Ramirez will join Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier in the heart of the Dodgers offense. If Ramirez returns to top form, the trio could be very formidable. It will be interesting to see how Hanley Ramirez does with the Dodgers.