Rival Yankees delighted Red Sox dumped Hanley: 'Thank you'

The New York Yankees certainly had no issues with the Boston Red Sox's shocking decision to designate Hanley Ramirez for assignment on Friday.

"Thank you," Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia said, according to Dan Martin of the New York Post. "He always seems to kill us, so I'm glad I don't have to face him there anymore.

"He'll get picked up right away. I don't understand why they let him go. Who's gonna hit left-handers?"

Ramirez has struggled for the better part of the last month, but has had enormous success against the Yankees this season. In six games, he slashed .389/.455/.889 with three home runs and nine RBIs. To Sabathia's question, the Red Sox rank 24th in the majors in OPS against left-handed pitching this season, with Ramirez hitting .333/.378/.476 in 45 plate appearances against southpaws.

"It's a bit of a stunner," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "The first thing I said was, 'I'm glad we don't have to see him.' He's gotten some big hits against us already this year."

The 34-year-old slashed .254/.313/.395 with six home runs in 44 games before manager Alex Cora informed president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski that Ramirez was the one to go as the club faced a roster crunch with Dustin Pedroia coming off the disabled list. Boston will be on the hook for the remaining $15 million on Ramirez's contract this season, but will no longer have to worry about his option for 2019 vesting.

For his career, Ramirez has hit .273/.328/.496 with 15 home runs and 40 RBIs in 65 games against New York.