There are two things going on here. One players who sign a FA contract can't be traded until after June 1st (I believe), Basically it keeps them from getting the Arroyo screw job if they have enough service time. The second (I think its still in the CBA), if a player signs a multiyear FA contract and is traded in the middle of it he can demand trade the following off season. So if Ramirez is traded this year, he can demand the receiving team trade him by the following (2013) offseason or he becomes a free agent.