9-News: 42.061 – Ramos, Nine: Still Far Apart?

[RonCo]

Fitful Negotiations Ongoing

6-2, 4.23, 96 K, 87 IP

While the Loserville Sluggers continue to make mincemeat out of the BBA’s Frick League, the undercurrent surrounding the Yellow Springs Nine has focused on their rotation, and in particular 27-year-old starter Ernesto Ramos. The name continues to draw interest and speculation in the media as to where he might wind up if he hits the free agent market this fall. It’s a real possibility, since the right-hander, who is 70-41 on his career and who won 20 games in 2040, is making $6m this season and will certainly be looking to cash in.

Given that the Nine’s finances are sunning along the upper regions of the salary cap, it’s not surprising to see the vultures circling Yellow Springs’ executive offices. Of course, as the pre-season Media Guide speculated, there are options available if the club wants to free up cash.

And, yes, that’s clearly what they’d need to do—free up cash, and lots of it.

Team insiders say that GM Ron Collins have met several times with Ramos’s representation, and that the two sides have been slowly coming closer. “They’re still pretty far apart, though,” the mole said. “There’s work to do.”

The pressure to get that work done has to be intense, however. Ramos and teammate Carlos Valle have comprised the core of the Nine rotation for several years, and now that they’ve been joined by Carlos Pineda and Tomas Ramirez, would seem to be a critical part of the Nine’s foundation going forward. They may not feel they can afford Ramos in the pocket book, but can they afford to lose him if they want to compete with Loserville for the coveted Heartland Division crown year in and year out? To add fuel to the fire, the upstart newcomers in Twin Cities seem to be ahead of schedule on their build plan.

“Every one knows what’s at stake,” our mole said.

In the meantime fans and the vultures wait.