The Cubs have signed left-hander Horacio Ramirez to a minor league deal, according to Carrie Muskat of MLB.com. The 32-year-old, who has spent the year in independent ball, has been assigned to Triple-A Iowa.
Ramirez posted a 1.96 ERA with 5.4 K/9 and 1.5 BB/9 in twelve starts for the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League this year. The hurler spent last season with the Angels where he saw nine innings of big league work while posting a 3.96 ERA with 3.6 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 in 45 Triple-A outings.
Why are these meaningless minor league moves even news-worthy? A journeyman lefty at triple-A. Woohoo! Trade bait! LOL
They are going to need somebody to cover Samardzija’s innings. I would think he will be shut down in another couple of starts.
God, they’ve got enough re-treads, they don’t need another to fill in to give up 6 runs per 3 innings.
Oh, God, why?
Low risk, high reward while looking for a little lightening in a bottle and create patchwork depth as the Cubs build the farm. This is no big deal.
Low risk, yes. High reward? I’m not sure a guy who couldn’t stick in MLB, much less the major leagues, constitutes a potential for “high reward.”
But yes, we agree it is no big deal. In fact I’m all for deals like this, it’s not like the Cubs have so much in the farm that this is taking playing time away from anybody.
Agree. “High reward” might come across as too lofty of an expectation. Let me re-word the observation as “higher reward potential than the cost and low risk of the acquisition”.
Low risk, no reward = AAA depth.
I’m pretty sure he signed with the Kia Tigers of the Korean Baseball Organization over the offseason. I don’t remember why they released him.
This is meant to add to the “Why?” sentiment.
With all the young pitchers they are running thru Chicago, they need someone to pitch at Iowa.
Hey, look! They didn’t have to surrender Rafael Soriano to acquire him! One should never forgive Bill Bavasi for that move.
If he has a decent start next year, they trade him before deadline time for more prospects. It’s the old cheap pitcher gets lucky for more prospects game that the Cubs brass is playing right now. I’m all for it…