Report: Ramirez Agrees To A Six-Year, $70 million Deal With Marlins

Orlando, FL (AHN) - The Florida Marlins and shortstop Hanley Ramírez agreed on a six-year extension deal worth $70 million, according to multiple sources.

The 24-year-old star shortstop, acquired by the Marlins in a trade that dealt Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to the Boston Red Sox, agreed to the framework of the richest contract in Marlins' franchise history. Ramirez is expected to earn $439,000 in 2008 and would be eligible for arbitration after this season. The deal is still pending after Ramirez passes physical, according to reports.

The Marlins, who are off to its best start in franchise history with 21-14, is also known for dealing star players rather than sign them to lengthy contracts as in the case of Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis who were traded last December. With the Ramirez deal, the franchise would get the much needed attendance boost especially with a new stadium in the works and revenues. The Marlins has one of the lowest salary payroll in the league with $22 million which is less than a third of Ramirez's deal.

Ramirez's new contract will give him an average $11.7 million a year. It is also the franchise's first multi-year deal since 2005 when the Marlins then signed Carlos Delgado to a four-year free agent contract and Paul Lo Duca to a three-year extension, both were subsequently traded to the New York Mets. Florida's previous richest contract was when the team signed Gary Sheffield in April, 1997 to a six-year deal worth $61 million.

"He's going to be a superstar in this league for a lot of years," Nationals manager Manny Acta told ESPN after Ramirez scored twice and drove in a run Friday at Washington. "He can hit a home run. He can bunt and steal second and third and score on anything. He'll take a walk. He'll hit over .320, almost guaranteed. He can do everything he wants in the game."

At present, closer Kevin Gregg is so far the Marlins' best-paid player at $2.5 million this season.

Ramirez, who was the National League Rookie of the Year in 2006, hit .332 with 52 stolen bases and 212 hits last season behind NL MVP runner-up Matt Holliday. As of Saturday, Ramirez was hitting .336 with eight home runs and 21 RBI's in 35 games.

An official announcement on the deal is expected to be made early next week, according to Florida media.