Trying to figure out the interest in Ramirez

The First-Year Player Draft begins tonight and its significance to the Orioles is heightened by the approaching roster transformation related to future trades and possible free agent departures. Impact acquisitions are needed to cushion the blows which can be done via the returns on any deals and the selections made from the pool of high school and college talent. The latter needs to be more than just depth moves.

But no pressure.

The Orioles are prepared to punt on the 2018 season. They can read the standings. But they're always attempting to make moves that bring improvement in the present and the near future. A complete teardown isn't in the floor plans.

Maybe this is how we're supposed to rationalize executive vice president Dan Duquette's interest in veteran Hanley Ramirez, which sources have confirmed. Duquette did his own confirming to the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo in a text message that noted how a signing is "under consideration." Cafardo was reacting to a report from The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal that said the Orioles were exploring the possibility.

(I also reacted to it, but my text to Duquette went unreturned.)

Ramirez is 34, a personality whose reputation has taken hits over the years and is best suited for first base or as a designated hitter. The Orioles could open their own first base/designated hitter store on Eutaw Street. Right across from Boog's BBQ. And a last-place team that isn't expected to reel off 24 wins in a row and get back to .500 wouldn't seem to be in the market for a fading veteran who only makes sense in a rebuild if he's bringing back a minor leaguer with upside, not potentially blocking one later this summer.

The financial gamble is light. The Orioles would owe only the prorated league minimum after the Red Sox cut ties with Ramirez and avoided a possible $22 million vesting option based on playing time. And if Duquette was intrigued six years ago by a possible reunion with Manny Ramirez, he'd naturally have similar feelings for Hanley Ramirez, who signed with the Red Sox as an international free agent in 2000 while Duquette was general manager.

Connecting the dots can be ridiculously easy. That's why you find the games in children's activity books.

There also could be pure desperation at work here. The Orioles rank last in the American League and next-to-last in the majors with 215 runs. Their .231 average was 26th before yesterday and their .682 OPS was 27th. A .294 on-base percentage ranked last and Ramirez owns a career .361 mark, which he matched in 2016 before posting a .242/.320/.429 slash line with a -0.3 WAR last summer and a .254/.313/.395 line and 0.1 WAR in 44 games this season.

If you think it's hard to watch the nightly displays of offensive ineptitude at home or in the stands, imagine sitting in one of the executive suites or in the dugout. Maybe Ramirez would offer more production than one of the moveable veterans currently fighting to keep his average above .200.

(And by "moveable veterans" I'm referring to someone who can be released without any contractual repercussions, such as having to eat one that would choke a bull.)

A message would be sent through the clubhouse. If you can't do the job, we'll find someone else. Your track record no longer is on our play list.

Where would Ramirez fit in the lineup? Are the Orioles going to sit Chris Davis or platoon him at first base, or plug Mark Trumbo into right field fulltime and let Ramirez DH while lamenting further slippage in their defense?

Danny Valencia is needed to play third base, at least against left-handers, while Tim Beckham is on the disabled list. Ramirez isn't necessarily a substitute for him if you're just thinking about swapping out one right-handed hitter for another.

Valencia is batting .287/.345/.491 in 35 games. He isn't the problem. Compared to others on the team, he's in line for a huge raise and a stake in ownership.

A front office that keeps trumpeting the farm system's improvements and how low grades are unfair and routinely ignore the homegrown players on the major league roster could be accused of contradicting itself by reaching for Ramirez in an attempt to stop the bleeding. And my guess is most fans would prefer that the Orioles spend the remaining months dealing just about anyone who can bring back young impact players and filtering prospects such as Cedric Mullins, DJ Stewart, Ryan Mountcastle, Austin Hays (once he heats up), Hunter Harvey and Keegan Akin to the majors.

There's definite support for Ramirez in the organization, but I wouldn't say it's unanimous. The timing of it is curious with the Orioles far from contention and wearing the seller label. Unless they're banking on getting a solid month from him and then flipping him to a team on the other side of .500.

Desperate times call for debatable measures.