Marlins ink SS Ramirez to six-year deal

May 17, 2008 - 9:08 PM MIAMI (Ticker) -- The Florida Marlins made it official Saturday, signing star shortstop Hanley Ramirez to a six-year contract worth $70 million.

It marks the richest contract in the 16-year history of the Marlins, a franchise that historically has been unwilling to make long-term financial commitments to players.

The financially-strapped Marlins entered this season with a $21.8 million team payroll, the lowest in the majors.

But seven days after the deal initially was reported by the Miami Herald, the Marlins formally opted to build themselves around Ramirez, the 2006 National League Rookie of the Year and the face of the franchise at just 24 years old.

"Hanley can do it all on the field, and he's always trying to improve himself and our team," Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria said. "We are looking forward to Hanley remaining an integral part of our team for many years."

"You're talking about a player who could be an MVP candidate every year, an All-Star every year," Marlins president Larry Beinfest added. "He is the type of player that you would want to build a team around."

While Loria and Beinfest heaped praise upon their star, Ramirez credited his teammates and set some lofty goals for the overachieving Marlins.

"(My teammates) are helping me," said Ramirez, who was accompanied by multiple family members and his agent, Andy Mota. "Since the first day, I want to thank them, because they helped me out a lot.

"I'm happy with the contract and I'm happy to stay here for the next six years. Hopefully, we can go to the playoffs this year. Trust me, that is my goal."

While somewhat overlooked playing in Florida, Ramirez has emerged as one of the game's most exciting players. Now he will be the centerpiece of a Marlins team that hopes to move into a new stadium by 2011.

Also flanked by team executives and multiple city politicians, Ramirez repeatedly thanked Marlins management during a news conference held on a portable stage on the grounds of the Orange Bowl - the prospective site of the team's new ballpark.

Beinfest consequently defended the size of the deal, arguing that Ramirez would certainly yield positive returns over the length of the contract.

"You have to look at everything," Beinfest said. "You have to look at the salary allocation of that player - if we were to lock him up - and what the future team is going to look like with him on it.

"Is the player healthy? Is his trend line going up? There are a lot of different things."

Acquired in the deal that sent Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to the Boston Red Sox following the 2005 campaign, Ramirez is batting .317 with nine homers, 23 RBI and 13 stolen bases this season.

Ramirez has been the driving force behind the surprising Marlins (23-18), who enter Saturday percentage points ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies (24-19) for first place in the NL East Division.

Last season, Ramirez tied for third in the NL batting race with a .332 average and tied for second in hits with 212. The Dominican also clubbed 29 homers and recorded 51 stolen bases.

But Ramirez, who also had 51 stolen bases as a rookie in 2006, admitted that he still has room to improve.

"I've got a long way to go," he said. "I'm going to try to keep working and trying to get my team ready every day and help them out."