Hanley Ramirez: 'Way too far ahead to be thinking about' playing first base

The Red Sox have a lot to figure out by Opening Day 2016. While the team fields auditions from young players over the remainder of the season, one of the biggest holes to fill is on the right side of the infield at first base. The Hanley Ramirez experiment in left field has been unsuccessful, and Ramirez remains unsure about potentially moving to first base. "I don't know about that yet. I don't know about first base," Ramirez said after Wednesday's loss to the Marlins. "I'm an employee here and I just want to win. I came here to win. I'm not saying I'm not playing there, and I'm not saying I'm playing there. It's just way too far ahead to be thinking about that. This season isn't over yet." According to WEEI.com's Rob Bradford, the Red Sox have at least internally discussed playing either Ramirez or Pablo Sandoval at first. They have not approached either of them about the possibility. Other options for the Sox, according to Bradford, include trading for a first baseman or starting Travis Shaw, who has performed well since being called up to the Red Sox. The team could also explore the possibility of moving catcher Blake Swihart to first once catcher Christian Vazquez returns from Tommy John surgery.