The Rays and Phillies have announced a swap that sends veteran catcher Wilson Ramos to Philly for a player to be named later or cash considerations. To clear a spot on the roster, lefty Zac Curtis was designated for assignment.
Ramos has been on the DL since mid-July due to a hamstring strain, but he can still be moved if both sides are comfortable with his medical reports. At present, he’s expected to return to action sometime in August.
It’s somewhat of a surprise fit, as catching help hasn’t been reported to be among the Phillies’ top interests leading up to the deadline. That said, Philadelphia backstops are hitting a collective .244/.317/.393 this season, and while that’s solid relative to catchers throughout the league, Ramos would represent a definitive upgrade, health permitting. In 315 plate appearances this season, he’s raked at a .297/.346/.488 clip, slugging 14 homers and 14 doubles along the way.
Rocket-armed Jorge Alfaro has been Philadelphia’s primary backstop this season, and while he’s held his own at the plate, his .254/.305/.398 batting line could stand to be improved upon. If the deal for Ramos ultimately goes through, then he’ll likely pair with Alfaro to shoulder the bulk of the catching load behind the dish this season. Ramos would be the second rental bat the Phillies have acquired in the days leading up to the deadline, as they already landed Asdrubal Cabrera from the division-rival Mets on Friday.
The addition of Ramos might limit Alfaro’s playing time for the duration of the 2018 season, but as a free agent at season’s end, Ramos won’t be a long-term roadblock for Alfaro. Ramos is earning $10.5MM in 2018 — his two-year deal called for an $8.5MM base salary but jumped by $2MM when Ramos started his 55th game last season — and is still owed $3.44MM of that sum before the end of the year.
Mark Feinsand of MLB.com tweeted the deal was done, after Fancred’s Jon Heyman tweeted that it was close. Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter) first connected the sides today.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
If the Phillies are comfortable with his medical records I do think he’d fit in well with the phils.
Plus he blocks the Nats from him. Also opens up Rays need for a catcher like Cards’ Kelly in an Archer deal.
Cards are selling and aren’t getting Archer. Your pipe dreaming like the Yanks. Sonny Gray for Harper. Lol that’s a funny one. Hard to believe some fans really deep down think this way in reality. Lol. Yoddie done in 2020 Cards aren’t trading Kelly esp for over rated Archer. Lol
Knapp cannot hit the ball. Alfaro is not much better offensively. Upgrade for sure.
It’s not Knapp’s bat that’s the problem. He’s hit at every level – often impressively so – and would likely now if he was full-time. But he’ll never be better than below average defensively and at that position you have to hit like Piazza if you’re going to start when you have no defense. Knapp’s bat isn’t good enough to outhit his fielding.
Alfaro’s ceiling is much higher offensively and defensively, and his talent is worth some patience. The team is doing now what they should have done in the off-season, that is bring in a veteran catcher to show him how it’s done.
Nats sitting on their a$$es?
Realmuto or bust? Ramos would been perfect for Nats.
Kinda cheering for the re-union after they dumped him, after many good years, due to his ACL tear.
Especially since he is a fan favorite too. He was getting huge cheers during all star festivities.
I like but be cheap!
Like you. Lol
We do not need a catcher!! We have two good young catchers. Don’t waste resources
Two good young catchers? You mean the two catchers that are tied for the league lead in errors and are 1st and 4th in passed balls? And that is just with both as part timers. That’s not going to cut it.
You mean their is guys in he league worse defensively than my boy Sanchez?
Lol!
Alfaro does have a problem with passed balls but he is still one of the top defensive catchers in baseball. His catchers ERA is 4th best in baseball and he’s not handling the 4th best staff.
I hate Knapp though and having a vet like Ramos with Alfaro would be great for the short term and helpful to Alfaro in long term.
He is obviously an upgrade, what team are you watching? Yes, Knapp has been hitting better lately, but Ramos is still better.
This would be a good acquisition for the Phillies. Let’s go Phillies. They just need to two bullpen pitchers if they can acquire Ramos.
At this point I would take one bullpen piece.
He’s has knee issues most of his career! That would scare me!
It should scare you if he was a long term play. But for two months, the risk is mitigated.
How many pass balls just last week alone cost the Phillies? They need a catcher.
Makes no sense
Sure it does, depending on the price. Knapp is barely adequate as a backup. Alfaro has offensive and defensive tools and has improved, but Ramos is a significant upgrade at this point.
You don’t make sense. This is an obvious upgrade at and behind the plate.
When? Late August? “You don’t make sense”, haha
Good move. I do believe Alfaro will be a very good franchise catcher going forward…but for the duration of this season…like it. Stash Knapp in AAA in case of injury.
…..yes stash,…… stash and work oh his defense. What a horrible defensive catcher he is this year.
Kudos to MLBTR writers on the trades etc.
#1 baseball website.
I better go gargle now
Yes
I thought this would have been a perfect, low cost acquisition for the Brewers. They’ve had below replacement level performance at C this year.
ok he’s a phillie now who did we give bbn up for a 6 week catcher. knowing the phillies we probably ga e up a top 5 prospect. it just better be a prospect close to number 30.
Forget what some writers are speculating. If you follow the Phillies there is a glaring problem. DEFENSE! Especially from the catchers. I have had on my wishlist of Players who would make a BIG change for the 2018 Phillies, Idea # 1: Yadier Molina. He is 36 years old…but would bring stability to the defense and instant help for the pitchers, plus would be a great teacher for Jorge Alfaro. Ramos is fine…still has 6 passed balls this year. He seems to always be injured.
Am typically wary of adding a veteran catcher with ~60 plus percent of the season in the rear view (as far as working with pitchers, etc) but I don’t feel that way here. Pretty much a no-brainer of a move as Wilson Ramos should be a significant offensive upgrade over Jorge Alfaro, while not ceding too much value defensively (assuming Ramos gets the plowshare of starts the rest of the way).
I would guess the player to be named later depends on how Ramos recovers from his hamstring injury.
I haven’t seen that reported anywhere but it was my thoughts also. I’m wondering/hoping that this is some type of conditional player depending on when he returns.
Agreed
Im good with it for a PTBNL. Good move buying low
Zac Curtis could be a fine waiver claim for a team seeking left-handed bullpen help. I’ve liked the guy since his days at Middle Tennessee State. He’s pitched well everywhere he’s been.
And he seems like he performed everywhere too. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s an Aaron Loup replacement north of the border
Tell this player’s parents to pick a name already so we know what to call him!
Would the Rays have received a comp pick when Ramos left for free agency? If so, this trade doesn’t make much sense unless the PTBNL is someone who was a decently high pick (2nd or 3rd round).
They would have if they would’ve extended a qualifying offer and Ramos rejected it to sign elsewhere. The problem is the Rays would not have offered him in the first place because the amount is expected to be close to $20 million and they would be scared he would take it. They basically lost him for nothing once he got hurt, what a joke!
ah yes, that makes sense. Bummer he got hurt when he did, but at least the Rays got something.
Wonder if Knapp could end up being the ptnl.
If you”re looking for a defensive upgrade from Ramos, you will be disappointed. He has limited mobility these days and has very bad blocking techniques (as a result of his knees). He will make the outstanding backhand often but it doesn’t replace getting in front of pitches. Even his framing scores have regressed from a few years ago. But he does hit although he is not a second half hitter over his career.
His framing scores? No doubt.
Sounds like a cheap acquisition. Wished my Red Sox offered the same.
Silly trade