Albert Pujols to Angels: Why the Cardinals Should Target Hanley Ramirez Now

With the St. Louis Cardinals losing their three-time MVP slugger Albert Pujols to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on a 10-year, $254 million deal, they will need to make a move now that will bring in a strong young player.

That player would be disgruntled Miami Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez.

Ramirez looks to be wanting his way out of Miami following the addition of fellow shortstop Jose Reyes. If the Marlins look to move Ramirez, the Cardinals should step in and try to acquire the 27-year-old star shortstop.

The Marlins still owe Ramirez $46.5 million over the next three years. The Marlins don't look to be scared to spend, but Ramirez is disgruntled, and that is a nice chunk of money they could move in order to pursue other pieces.  

There is no doubt that the NL Central is a very winnable division. The Cardinals did lose their best player, and it will be tough to replace the numbers that Pujols put up that pushed this team toward two World Series titles over the last 11 seasons. With Ramirez, they could at least attain a player who can provide some offensive output along with the core of Matt Holliday and David Freese.

Over his career, Ramirez has averaged 25 home runs a season. With only 92 games played in 2011, Ramirez is coming off of a year of all-time lows. In 2010, though, he batted .300 with 21 home runs and 76 RBI. Nothing close to Pujols numbers, but he definitely has the ability to produce and make up for some of the loss of what Pujols' move now presents.

The Cardinals are likely in a state of confusion right now. They need to get past it, though. This is what happens, but clearly the Cardinals management know how to put together a team. They have won two World Series over the last six seasons.

They could get themselves back on track right away by adding a guy like Ramirez to what is already proven to be a strong team.