Fantasy Profile: Aramis Ramirez, 3B, Milwaukee Brewers

Welcome back to the 2015 Last Word on Fantasy Baseball Guide. Over the next several months we will be releasing player profiles, projections, position rankings, and a number of other articles that will help you dominate your fantasy league this season. Whether you play rotisserie or head-to-head; whether you have a standard draft, a snake or an auction league, and whether its keeper league or a one-year deal; we have all the fantasy information you need.

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FANTASY PROFILE: ARAMIS RAMIREZ, 3B, MILWAUKEE BREWERS

LWOS Ranking 15, Captain’s Value: $8.13

Father Time has the only undefeated team in sports history and every player eventually joins his roster; one player making his MLB Swan Song before retiring after the 2015 season is Aramis Ramirez of the Milwaukee Brewers. Although Ramirez has missed 99 games over the past two season, he was a metronome of solid production for more than a decade from 2001-2012 where he produced an average season of 139 games with a .290 average, 28 HR, 77 Runs and 97 RBI. Those numbers have dipped to 113 games with a .284 average, 13.5 HR, 45 Runs and 58 RBI – those numbers are not fantastic by any means, but there could be some underlying value in Ramirez this season.

The Brewers have announced that they plan to give Ramirez some days off this season in an effort to keep him fresh and healthy; as Ramirez clearly tired down the stretch last season after posting a very respectable first half line of .288/11/31/43. Currently, Ramirez is going off the board pick #211 and is the 13^th Third Baseman being selected at the NFBC (not including Anthony Rendon or Martin Prado in that list); that is an early 15^th round selection in a 15-team format or a late 18^th round selection in a 12-team format – there is virtually no downside to gambling on Ramirez at that point with his likely Batting Average help.

If the Brewers put Ramirez on a “catcher schedule” and sit him one day a week, he would be looking at a pace of 136 games and should be able to hit his customary .285 with around 18 HR, 65 Runs and 80 RBI – these numbers are well within reach even at his recently depressed production rates. Yes, Ramirez is likely to spend a stint on the DL, but that production rate is hard to find at 3B at that point of drafts – if you believe the next three Third Basemen in the current ADP (Pedro Alvarez, Brett Lawrie or Chase Headley) are safer/better buys, then by all means avoid him. I feel Ramirez is a nice value Corner Infield or Utility target where you can replace him with your second First Basemen or an Outfielder when/if he gets hurt.

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