Marlins pull out wallet, hand Ramirez $70M deal

He's off to a fine start again this year for first-place Florida, hitting .336 with eight homers, 21 RBI and 13 stolen bases going into Saturday night's game at Washington.

"He's going to be a superstar in this league for a lot of years," Nationals manager Manny Acta said after Ramirez scored twice and drove in a run Friday at Washington. "He can hit a home run. He can bunt and steal second and third and score on anything. He'll take a walk. He'll hit over .320, almost guaranteed. He can do everything he wants in the game."

Several other Marlins will become eligible for arbitration and substantial raises after this season, including second baseman Dan Uggla, left fielder Josh Willingham, first baseman Mike Jacobs and left-hander Scott Olsen.

"With the new stadium, we kind of figured they're going to make an effort to lock a few guys up," Uggla said. "They're starting with Hanley, and everybody's happy for Hanley. He's set for the rest of his life. Who knows what they're going to do now?

"I think it's a great move. He's going to be one of the best players in the game for a long time. He's a winner. It's really smart on their part."

The Marlins traditionally have been reluctant to sign players to lengthy contracts. Last December they traded Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis rather than lock them up with long-term deals.

Making such a commitment to Ramirez could give the Marlins a much-needed attendance boost, Willingham said.

"Fans want to be familiar with their players," Willingham said. "Somebody like him, to know he's going to be around to watch for that many years, will maybe get some more people in the stands."

Ramirez came to Florida in a payroll-paring trade that sent Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to Boston in November 2005. Red Sox manager Terry Francona said he was glad to hear about Ramirez's contract.

"Good for him. That's great news," Francona said.

Francona said it was apparent early in Ramirez's first spring training with the Red Sox that he would become a star. Francona said he remembers coaches telling him from the outset, "This kid is some kind of special."