Chicago Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez is having a good season after an awful start, no question. But it's fool's gold, with the gold going to Ramirez and Cubs GM Jim Hendry the fool.
For if Ramirez's season leads Hendry to either pick up his club option at $16 million for 2012, or motivates him to sign an extension, then this otherwise solid season by Ramirez will actually be a negative for the Cubs in the long run.
Look, I know that Ramirez has been the best Cubs third baseman since Ron Santo, at least offensively.
While that certainly isn't saying much, as most of the third-sackers the team has employed have been stiffs, except for the occasional Bill Madlock or Ron Cey, it is impressive.
Ramirez may not be a good glove man—in fact, at times he's been downright awful—but his offense has been one of the bright spots for the Cubs.
At least, when he has been healthy. And that is the rub, Cubs fans. He hasn't been healthy much over the past couple of years and, at his age, he isn't likely to repeat this season's run of good fortune.
Although I hate to let facts get in the way of a good argument, let's examine the facts here for a minute.
In 2010, Ramirez played in 124 games. The year before, only 82. In fact, since 2004, Ramirez has missed 229 games.
To expect that to improve as he turns 34 next year (which is, like, 80 in Dominican Republic years) is to believe in the tooth fairy.
Sure, he's been mostly healthy this season, but remember, he is motivated by his contract status.
If I was Hendry, and thank God I'm not, I would look to sell high on Ramirez. Yes, I know he won't waive his rights and all that, but I'd make him an offer he couldn't refuse.
Agree to a trade or sit on the bench. How would sitting idly by affect his future contract earnings potential? I'd bet he would change his mind in a hurry.
If this sounds rough, so be it. Baseball is a business, as we're constantly being reminded. The Cubs must do what's best for the team, and since they are not contenders, the best thing is to sell off the vets.
Plus, if they do have any belief in Josh Vitters left, why not bring him up and see what he can do? Sure, he walks about as often as Halley's Comet appears, but maybe he'll have some early success and become trade bait.
This is the dilemma when you have a G.M. trying to fight for his future employment. He doesn't want to trade guys who can help him win now, because he wants the Cubs to have the best record possible at the end of the year.
Normally, I would applaud that, but when you're about to drop to 20 games below .500, what does it matter?
A new G.M. would be given enough rope to trade off Jeff Baker, Carlos Pena and Ramirez, to name a few, but Hendry is under pressure to win now.
And even if you don't buy the Vitters thing, what will the Cubs be left with if they decline the option, as expected, and Ramirez hits the free agent market and signs elsewhere?
In short, to consider anyone other than Starlin Castro untouchable on this team is insane.
It's too bad that Hendry is so easily fooled by shiny objects.
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