[Edit by craig]  Ramp originally posted this as a Fan Post and I hope he doesn't mind that I am going to write all around it.  The writing in the blue-grey box was his original post, the typing above and below the box is me.  I wouldn't want to saddle Ramp with my opinions.

Anyway, here is the latest speculation on Hanley Ramirez: 

Lambasted for their major league-low $21 million payroll and perpetual trading of star players, the Marlins are finally keeping one in the fold.

According to a Ramirez acquaintance, shortstop Hanley Ramirez and the Marlins are on the verge of finalizing a six-year, $70 million contract extension, the largest commitment in franchise history. The deal is pending a physical and an official announcement might not come until early next week.

The Marlins are believed to have initiated talks during spring training. Ramirez, who is making $439,000 this season, would have been eligible for arbitration after this season. Ramirez is taking a huge home discount as this deal buys out his first three years of free agent eligibility.

Marlins President David Samson would not comment. Andy Mota, Ramirez's agent, could not be reached.

Sun Sentinel

Joe Frisaro is also reporting basically the same thing  but instead of "a Ramirez acquaintance" he refers to the source as "a high-ranking Major League Baseball source".  But everything else matches.

If true, this a great move by the Marlins.  Not only do they get Hanley locked up for six years but they do so at a very reasonable (cheap) price which won't break the bank.  In other words, this isn't the Texas Rangers signing A-Rod and then not having enough money to put a decent team around him.

If everything happens as reported, the Marlins can lock down Hanley and still have enough money to pay the arbitration prices of the players who will be arbitration eligible without substantially increasing the payroll.  Oh sure, the payroll would more than double, if they did all of this, but the Marlins would still be last in payroll or close to it.

Hopefully this isn't just some tale being told by the Old Salts at the bait shop and it actually has merit.  We will see.

(Note to Ramp: if you would prefer for me to leave your Fan Posts as they are posted, let me know and I won't do this in the future.)