Chat » The Indians want to see if Hanley Ramirez can still swing

GOODYEAR Travis Shaw Jersey , Ariz. (AP) — it.The free agent slugger finalized a minor league contract on Tuesday with Cleveland, which is looking to replenish some power lost following several offseason moves. The 35-year-old Ramirez passed his physical and reported to training camp, arriving with a Boston Red Sox equipment bag after spending the past four seasons with them.If added to the 40-man roster, Ramirez would get a $1 million salary while in the major leagues and the chance to earn performance bonuses.“The hope is that he will be a middle-of-the-order-type bat,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “I told him to tell me when he thinks he’s ready to get in some games. We need to get a look at him, but you can rush it and mess it up.”Ramirez, who has 269 homers, played in just 44 games with Boston last season before he was released. Ramirez is the only active major leaguer with at least 250 homers and 250 stolen bases and one of just seven with more than 250 homers and 1,000 runs.Cleveland needs some offensive pop after Michael Brantley left as a free agent and Edwin Encarnacion and Yonder Alonso were traded. That trio combined for 72 homers and 266 RBIs in 2018.The Indians are expected to use Ramirez primarily as a designated hitter, but he can also play some first base. When camp opened, Carlos Santana and Jake Bauers http://www.brewersfanproshop.com/authentic-orlando-arcia-jersey , who can also play in the outfield, were going to share time at those two spots.Francona said there’s no pressure on Ramirez.“We ask the same of every single player, show up on time and be a good teammate, try to be as good as you can.” He said. “Whether a guy hit .300 in 1999 or whether he didn’t run a ball out in 2012, doesn’t influence us here.”A three-time All-Star, Ramirez was voted NL Rookie of the Year in 2006 with Florida.Ramirez broke into the big leagues as a shortstop and he spent a brief period with Francona in Boston before he was traded in 2005 to the Marlins for pitcher Josh Beckett after just two at-bats in the majors. The Chicago White Sox will try for back-to-back wins against the top team in baseball when they host the Boston Red Sox for the third game of a four-game series Saturday night at Guaranteed Rate Field.Chicago (54-81) is coming off a 6-1 win over the Red Sox on Friday in a game that included a two-hour, nine-minute rain delay. The White Sox have won six of their last eight games and 12 of their last 17.Boston (93-43) has lost five of its last six road games but maintains a healthy lead atop the American League East. The Red Sox will try to bounce back at the plate after being held to one run or fewer for the 17th time this season.Article continues below ...White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon (6-3, 2.70 ERA) is set to make his 15th start. The 25-year-old is experiencing his best stretch of the season but draws a tough assignment against the Red Sox. He has yet to beat Boston in his career, posting an 0-2 record with a 3.38 ERA in three previous starts. In his only start against Boston this year, Rodon gave up four runs (two earned) and six hits in five innings and took the loss in a 4-2 defeat on June 9.Overall Rodon has recorded nine consecutive quality starts, which is the longest streak by any White Sox pitcher since he registered 10 quality starts in a row from Aug. 11 Robin Yount Jersey , 2015, to April 13, 2016. Rodon is the team’s first pitcher with nine straight quality starts in a single season since Jose Quintana accomplished the feat in 2015.During Rodon’s current nine-start streak, he is 5-0 with a 1.84 ERA. He has allowed only 32 hits in 63 2/3 innings.The strong performances from Rodon, as well as several other starting pitchers, have helped Chicago collect more wins.“This month has been refreshing for us, the way we’ve been playing,” Rodon told the Chicago Sun-Times. “It’s something to look forward to and try to carry it out the rest of the season and transition that into spring training and into next season.”For the Red Sox, left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (11-3, 3.44 ERA) will come off the disabled list and make his 20th start of the season. He has not pitched for Boston since July 14 because of a right ankle sprain, but he looked good during a minor league rehabilitation stint.Before his injury http://www.brewersfanproshop.com/authentic-orlando-arcia-jersey , Rodriguez did not allow a run in three consecutive starts, logging 17 scoreless innings during that span. Rodriguez will look to build upon that streak as teammate Hector Velazquez returns to the bullpen.“He’s a full go,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora told MassLive.com. “I think bringing him back is going to help us not only in the rotation but … it’s going to help our bullpen. Getting Hector back in the bullpen, having Drew (Pomeranz) in the bullpen is going to help us as far as how to manage a game if something happens early in the game.”In two career starts against the White Sox, Rodriguez is 0-0 with a 3.75 ERA. He has walked four and fanned 12 in 12 innings. This will be the 25-year-old’s first appearance against Chicago this season.Avisail Garcia has eight RBIs in his last eight games for the White Sox.Meanwhile, Mookie Betts is hitting .325 (13-for-40) with two doubles, two homers and six RBIs in his last 11 games for Boston.