Cubs News: Aramis Ramirez is included on this year’s Hall of Fame ballot

Former Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez will appear on this year’s ballot.

From 2003-2011, the hot corner at Wrigley Field was manned by Cubs fan-favorite Aramis Ramirez. The now 42-year-old retired third baseman, who hung up his cleats and glove after the 2015 season, is eligible for the Hall of Fame. He is officially on the 2021 ballot, along with 10 other first-year eligible players.

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Ramirez played 1,124 of his 2,194 career MLB games in a Chicago Cubs uniform. He was traded to the Cubs in July 2003 along with Kenny Lofton from the Pittsburgh Pirates and played through the 2011 season before signing with Milwaukee as a free agent. As a Cub, he hit .294/.356/.492 with 239 homers, 806 RBI, .887 OPS and was a two-time All Star. Ramirez is sixth on the all-time Cubs home run list and 12th in RBI.

There is no doubt that Ramirez is one of the most productive Cubs hitters in the modern era. He came up with some big game-winning hits and put up consistently good numbers every year.

Is Aramis Ramirez Hall of Fame worthy?

Outside of Chicago, Ramirez played 615 games with Pirates and 455 with the Brewers. He began his career at age 20 in 1998 with Pittsburgh and eventually found his way back to them in his final year in 2015. It’s easy to forget Ramirez’s last moment in the majors was facing Jake Arrieta in the Wild Card Game that year. Of course, the Cubs won that game, 4-0.

His entire career numbers: .283/.341/.492 with 386 home runs, 1,417 RBI, .833 OPS, 2,303 hits, 115 wRC+, and 38.5 fWAR. Ramirez was a three-time All Star, Silver Slugger winner and finished in the top-10 in MVP voting twice.

Long story short, Ramirez was a very good player but not Hall of Fame good. Over 2,000 hits and 300 home runs is certainly worthy of being in the mythical “Hall of Very Good” at least. A 38.5 fWAR again is not shabby, but Hall of Famers are usually at least 50 or better. One of Ramirez’s biggest weaknesses was his defense. According to Fangraphs, he sports a career -72 defensive runs saved (note 1998-2001 there is no DRS data available).

Ramirez will most likely be one and done on the ballot. Regardless, the contributions of Aramis Ramirez will be remembered by fans for a long time. He was part of three postseason teams from 2003-2008 and hit some memorable walk-off home runs, one seemingly every year.