The Boston Red Sox on Friday designated for assignment veteran first baseman Hanley Ramirez to open a spot on their MLB roster for second baseman Dustin Pedroia.

By effectively cutting ties with Ramirez, the Red Sox will have to absorb the $15 million the 34-year-old is owed for the rest of the 2018 season. 

The Red Sox now have seven days to trade or release Ramirez.

The situation is an odd turn in a season in which Ramirez began as a force in the middle of the AL East-leading Red Sox's line-up. Proclaiming himself fit after off-season left-shoulder surgery, he slashed .330/.400/.474 with three homers in April. Things have fallen off since, and yet he ranks third on the team with 44 starts and has batted in the number three spot in the line-up in 38 of the team’s 50 games.

Friday's move ends a frequently rocky three-plus seasons in Boston in Ramirez's return as a free agent, after he signed a four-year, $88 million deal with the team for which he made his MLB debut in 2005. 

The news overshadowed Pedroia's activation from the DL for a weekend series at Fenway Park against the Atlanta Braves.

Pedroia’s return comes exactly seven months after surgery on his left knee. He was 1 for 14 in his five-game rehab assignment at Triple-A Pawtucket.

A franchise stalwart, Pedroia, 34, is in his 13th season with the Red Sox. The 2008 AL MVP is sixth among all Red Sox hitters in doubles (394) and stolen bases (138) and eighth in hits (1,802) and total bases (2,646).