First-year Red Sox manager Alex Cora once was Hanley Ramirez’s biggest advocate, cementing him in the valued No. 3 spot in the Boston lineup.

On Thursday, Cora called Red Sox President Dave Dombrowski and said it was time to say goodbye to Ramirez.

Boston designated Ramirez for assignment Friday, meaning the Red Sox have seven days to trade Ramirez or release him.

The move was made to make room for second baseman Dustin Pedroia, coming off the disabled list, but it had more to do with playing first baseman Mitch Moreland more and keeping Blake Swihart on the roster.

And while the Red Sox deny it’s a reason, there’s also a savings of $22 million – which Ramirez, 34, would have made next year if he remained a regular this season.

“The vesting option has nothing to do with it,” Dombrowski said. “We’re trying to do everything we can to win.

“He’s been scuffling at the plate. We felt it was time to play Moreland more.”

Ramirez, after a hot April (.341, three homers, .906 OPS), was struggling in May (.163, 3, .500). Meanwhile, Moreland has been consistently good – .311, seven home runs, 1.001 OPS, and is a natural first baseman, unlike Ramirez.

“Hanley’s OK. He’s not Mitch Moreland,” Dombrowski said.

Dombrowski said he and Cora talk daily about possible moves. Ramirez’s name came up before. But early this week it seemed Swihart would be the one getting designated.

“We thought that was probably going to be the move,” Cora said. “Now he’s part of the equation.”

Swihart, 26, was a switch hitter without a position – a backup to the backups at catcher and left field, and untested at third and first. Recently, Swihart’s agent asked for a trade. The Red Sox always said they valued Swihart and after Friday’s move, it wasn’t just talk.

“We’ll get him his at-bats and get him ready,” Cora said.

Swihart, who played first base for Team USA as an amateur, played the position some in spring training. Cora said Swihart will play there as soon as possible – “as early as (Saturday).”

Cora also said he planned to use Swihart more at catching. Sandy Leon (.233) and Christian Vazquez (.195) are not much offensively.

Swihart’s catching, considered OK, impressed Cora last week, when Swihart caught knuckleball pitcher Stephen Wright.

“That opened my eyes,” Cora said. “There are certain spots he can catch. Having that bat in the lineup is going to help us out.”

Swihart looked like a relieved man in the Red Sox clubhouse.

“I think it’s going to give me more of an opportunity to get in there,” he said.

Still, the opportunity comes at the expense of a player losing his job.

“I was a little surprised,” Pedroia said. “I played with Hanley since we were real young. It’s tough. I haven’t spoken with him yet. Everyone knows about my relationship with him. I care about him and his family. Wish him the best.”

Pedroia, 34, was drafted by the Red Sox in 2004 as a shortstop. He was assigned to advanced Class A Sarasota on Aug. 2 – the same day Ramirez, a shortstop, was promoted from Sarasota to the Portland Sea Dogs.

When the two players began the 2005 season in Portland, Pedroia moved to second base. Pedroia was soon promoted to Triple-A while Ramirez stayed with the Sea Dogs all year and was traded in the offseason, in the deal for Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell.

Ramirez returned to Boston as a free agent in 2015, signed by General Manager Ben Cherington – who was the Red Sox farm director when Ramirez was with the Sea Dogs.

Ramirez’s contract was for four years and $88 million plus the $22 million vesting option for 2019 (if Ramirez had 1,050 plate appearances over the 2017 and 2018 seasons).

Initially playing left field, Ramirez looked awkward, then hurt his shoulder crashing into the wall. He played 105 games (.249, 12 home runs). His best season was in 2016 (.286 average and 30 home runs). Last year, in 133 games, Ramirez batted .242 with 23 homers.

When Ramirez’s struggles this month continued, Cora said the team – and Ramirez – were better served with him gone.

“Versatility is very important to me. This roster we have will help us in the long run. I’m excited about it,” Cora said.

“(Ramirez’s) role was going to diminish. It was going to be difficult. Platoon, pinch-hit late in the game … that’s not a good role for Hanley Ramirez. He needs his at-bats.”

Ramirez was told early Friday after the team returned from Tampa.

“He didn’t really say much,” Dombrowski said, “but it was 3:45 in the morning.”

Ramirez tweeted Friday afternoon: “Thank you Red Sox Nation. It’s been real. Love you always.”

Dombrowski said it will be difficult to trade Ramirez, so it’s likely he’ll be released.

Ramirez is owed $15 million this season. Add in the salaries of Pablo Sandoval ($18 million), who was released last year, and Rusney Castillo ($11 million), who was taken off the roster and is playing in Triple-A Pawtucket, and the Red Sox are paying $44 million for players not playing in Boston.

Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or:

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: @ClearTheBases

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