Boston Red Sox Today: Hanley Ramirez To Play in Dominican Winter League

Boston Red Sox slugger Hanley Ramirez is returning to baseball early this season to play winter ball for a professional baseball team in the Dominican Winter League.

Hanley Ramirez is getting a head start on baseball this year.  The Boston Red Sox slugger announced via Twitter on Tuesday that he’ll play for Tigres del Licey, a professional baseball team in the Dominican Winter League beginning next Monday.

Ramirez is coming off one of his best seasons in baseball and certainly his best season with the Red Sox.  The 32-year-old launched 30 home runs and a career-high 111 RBIs last season.  Most importantly, he became of the leaders on the team.

The Boston Red Sox gave him permission to play on the team that has won a league-record 23 championships.  His stint with the team will serve as a warmup for the World Baseball Classic set to begin in 2017.  Hopefully this experience will help Ramirez gear more of a leadership role for the Red Sox with the retirement of mentor and close friend David Ortiz.

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So far, Ramirez is saying all the right things.  As there is a chance he will be asked to play more GH for the team, the slugger said he will do whatever the teams ask.

"“I just want to play and have my four at-bats,” Ramirez said when asked if he cares what position he plays via the Boston Herald.  “ Maybe five. That’s all that matters, just go out there and kick some butt. It don’t matter where I’m going to be playing.“I’m not the type of player or person that says, ‘I want to do this, I want to do that.’ I’m just going to go into spring training and do whatever they ask me to do.”"

Notes & quotes

Daniel Nava:  According to Masslive.com, former Red Sox outfielder Daniel Nava has signed with the Philadelphia Phillies.  It is a minor league deal with an invitation to major league spring training camp.

As a starter and role player for the Red Sox from 2010-15, Nava had a tough time sticking with another ball club.  The 33-year-old played in 60 games between the Los Angeles Angels and Kansas City Royals with just one home run, four doubles and 10 RBIs.

Dave Dombrowski on team’s options to replace David Ortiz via ESPN:

"“We still have a very good offensive team.  We led runs scored by 100 last year. I can’t predict that everyone will have the same years. [Ortiz] is a big reason for that. But I think we still have a really good offensive team.”"

John Farrell on Tyler Thornburg via NESN:

"“He’s made some subtle adjustments with his arm slot that has really allowed the strikeouts to tick up.  The breaking ball has become much more of a put-away weapon against left-handed hitters. We’re getting a guy who’s just 28 years of age who is coming into his own at the right time.”"

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