The Rays could strike a late-spring deal involving one of their pitchers, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter). It’s not immediately clear how likely that scenario is, but it’s interesting that it’s a real consideration at this stage of camp.
Tampa Bay already parted with important staff members at last year’s trade deadline, when it shipped Matt Moore to the Giants, and earlier this winter, when Drew Smyly was dealt to the Mariners. But the organization also ended up adding a MLB pitching candidate over the winter when it swapped second baseman Logan Forsythe to the Dodgers for intriguing prospect Jose De Leon.
Now, it seems, the Rays are again looking to tweak their staff mix. The “strongest candidate” to be moved, per the report, is righty Erasmo Ramirez, who Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times recently suggested as a possible trade candidate. The 26-year-old has turned in 254 innings of 3.76 ERA ball, with 6.7 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9, over his two seasons in Tampa Bay. Though he functioned mostly as a starter in 2015, Ramirez worked almost exclusively from the pen last year.
With just $3.2MM owed to Ramirez and two more years of arbitration control remaining, he’d be an appealing acquisition target to a variety of organizations. Several teams are said to be looking to bolster their rotation depth to account for ailing starters, and Ramirez would represent a sturdy starting option who could transition to a pen role as needed.
That same versatility is of obvious value to the Rays, though the team has a similarly flexible pitcher on hand in Matt Andriese with numerous other arms available on the 40-man roster. Presumably, pitchers other than Ramirez could also be on the move in the right circumstances. Righty Alex Cobb has long been discussed as a possible trade target, though parting with him would likely mean selling low given that he only made it back very late in 2016 after a long Tommy John rehab. Top starters Chris Archer and Jake Odorizzi have also been chatted about quite a bit, though both would represent major trade targets for rival organizations.
Even though they are in their division I could see the Red Sox trying to get rameriz depending on what happens with Price Pomerantz Rodregez and Wright. Plus Ramierez has also worked out of the pen before where the Red Sox have some questions. I like the fit be agin since they are in the same division I don’t see this happening
Maybe in July but the Rays aren’t trading one of their starters to a division rival to start the season lol
Erasmo for Calhoun? He’s a stud, but the Dodgers don’t have a DH slot and could use another RH setup man so we can send Chris Hatcher somewhere else before he gives away any more of our leads smh
They might want more for Willie Calhoun
Stop please. That’s a terrible trade.
And by the way he’s a swing man/long guy. He’s not a setup guy. He’s a decent MR pitcher, but you just suggested trading a middle of the order type bat for a middle reliever. Let’s let Calhoun get through this crash course and his first true MLB instruct offseason before making a judgement on what his defensive abilities could be. This is usually the year guys usually make the biggest jump defensively. We’re not talking about a legit shut down impact reliever.
I think Willie Calhoun plus a marginal prospect gets the Dodgers a Jake Odorizzi. Erasmo should only cost part-time ceiling marginal prospect.
No Odorizzi is going to cost a lot more than that. Let’s not downplay his controllability and market price for a SP at the deadline. I’m not sure they are looking for a guy with control though. I think it’s more of the Cobb variety on expiring contracts.
Erasmo is a decent pitcher with control I’m just not sure he would cost substantial. This seems to be somewhat of a salary dump.
It’s somewhat overpay, I’m.just not inspired by the bullpen options we have this year other than Kenley, of course. Blanton came out of no where last year, I hope we can replicate that find this year.
The bullpen is fine they might need a piece come midseason, but it’s still a good bullpen. The dodgers have their Ramirez version in Strippling. You don’t overpay for an average middle relief guy like that.
I dont see how you can be uninspired by the bullpen options. Kenley is a top 3 closer. Romo makes for a good setup man. 2 very good lefties in liberator and dayton. It was the best bullpen in baseball last year and the only difference is romo replacing blanton
It’s not inspiring by household namesake, but the pieces fit. Romo is a good setup guy against RHP, def not against lhh. Avilan and Lib are floating loogys, they are pretty excellent against lhh. Dayton can attack both. So you go 9/8/7. Which all in all means you essentially push Baez down. Strip is your long man/mop up guy. It’s a solid pen that honestly might be just one piece away at the deadline. For all the flack the FO got for signing Sierra, he’s look comfortable this spring training. It’s pretty deep and there are some pretty intriguing minor league arms that could potentially be ready mid season.
Marco Hernandez and a lower level prospect for Erasmo Ramirez sounds right for the Red Sox
No chance they trade calhoun for an on reliever. Chris hatcher is irrelevant to the dodgers now i dont even see him making the opening day roster. For some reason the comment wont post in the repsonse area
He could be talking about the Angels RF.
In a related story, Ken Rosenthal reported that grass is green and today is Tuesday.
Before this “story” broke, was there anyone who thought that the Rays would hang up the phone if someone called about Erasmo Ramirez?
I would trade one of the pitchers to Chicago n try to pry away one of happ,Jimenez,Baez group. None of them have a position and will all be beasts sooner than later
Colorado makes sense especially after the unfortunate news with Chad Bettis.
Gray, Chatwood, Anderson, Lyles and Hoffman or Rusin isn’t going to get it done. With the money they spent on their bullpen this offseason and last coupled with the Desmond and Parra signings the need to add another starting arm if they want to compete in the west.
They can’t plan to just out-slug everyone to the top of the division and hope that can be sustainable throughout the whole season, they are going to need some arms to truly compete. Even on the playoff teams under Jim Tracy earlier in the decade, if it wasn’t for Jeff Francis, Aaron Cook, Jason Hammel, Ubaldo Jimenez and company they wouldn’t have had a chance even with the offense as good as it was then as it is now.
Gallo for erasmo straight up who says no