Fifteen million dollars is a lot of money to throw away for most companies.
But the owners of the Red Sox were happy to do it, knowing it means they won't have to deal with the distraction of finding ways to keep Hanley Ramirez from getting enough plate appearances for a $22 million vesting option that would kick in next year.
Sure, they could've just benched Ramirez to avoid the vesting option. But then the agents and the players' union would start screaming to the media, and it would play out like most Red Sox dramas, from the fried-chicken-and-beer episode to the Dennis Eckersley vs. David Price saga.
So Red Sox general manager Dave Dombrowski got the go-ahead from owner John Henry to designate Ramirez for assignment. Soon he'll be released and free to sign with any team for the prorated minimum, with Boston picking up the remainder of his $15.25 million salary _ assuming no one is dumb enough to trade for him.
The White Sox wouldn't be anyone's first choice to land Ramirez when he's free to sign elsewhere. A contender will likely pick him up, and at the Memorial Day mark of the season, the only teams not contenders are the Sox, Royals, Orioles, Rangers, Marlins and Reds.
Still, it wouldn't hurt the Sox to get in the mix, since Ramirez wouldn't cost them much and he would provide manager Rick Renteria with another DH option now that Matt Davidson's back is acting up.
Davidson was out of the starting lineup again on Sunday after missing the last four games, and had back spasms during batting practice at Comerica Park on Saturday.
Convincing Ramirez to come to the Sox may sound like a losing proposition. Why would anyone want to join a team on its way to 100 losses?
But maybe Ramirez just wants to relax and be in a friendly clubhouse in a pressure-free atmosphere that's the polar opposite of Boston. The only expectations on the South Side in 2018 are great food and cold beer. The Sox could just let Hanley be Hanley.
Do the Sox really need Ramirez?
Well, no, not really. They can finish last without him, or perhaps fourth if the Royals continue to be a major player in the race to the bottom. If the goal is to lose as many games possible and get the top pick in the 2019 draft, it doesn't make sense to try to improve your offense.
And while the Sox ranked 26th in runs scored before Sunday's games, they have received good production from the DH spot, thanks mostly to Davidson. They began Sunday's game against the Tigers fourth at the DH slot in home runs (10) and sixth at the DH slot in RBIs (27).
But if the Sox just want to provide a little entertainment value to this lost season, and if Davidson's back issue is not a recurring theme, they can play Davidson at third and use Ramirez at DH.
Yolmer Sanchez can then become a Ben Zobrist-like super-utility player in the outfield and at second, short and third. Renteria already has said Sanchez could play some outfield, though he's yet to give him a shot.
This season already is toast, and the next big prospects in the rebuild, Eloy Jimenez and Michael Kopech, are still in the minors waiting for the call.
What's the worst that could happen?
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