The Tigers announced Tuesday that they’ve signed free-agent righty Erasmo Ramirez to a minor league contract and invited him to Major League Spring Training.
A veteran of nine MLB seasons, Ramirez returns to the American League after a one-year sojourn in the NL with the Mets. Ramirez signed a minors deal with New York last year and ended up appearing in six games for the club, posting an 0.63 ERA over 14 1/3 innings but with only a 17K% and 9.4K-BB%.
Ramirez has worked as a swingman for much of his career and was a full-time starter as recently as 2018 when pitching for the Mariners, though he did struggle over those 10 starts. The 30-year-old could be used as a potential depth option in Detroit’s rotation, adding to the experienced starters (Matt Boyd, Michael Fulmer, and the recently acquired Jose Urena) the Tigers already have on hand. Given how several of Detroit’s top pitching prospects could be worked into the mix at some point in 2021, there will be quite a juggle for innings in managing these younger arms and in stretching everyone back out for a fuller season after the abbreviated 2020 campaign.
Now they need to bring back ace Jordan Zimmerman and go to the ws.
I feel like Zimmerman might sign a minor league contract with somebody. I feel like he would sign with a team like the O’s or Pirates. Might as well give him a shot. For the pirates, if he rebounds that’s a prospect you can trade for. If he flops then don’t resign him.
Serenity now!
11-6 3.75 ERA With the Rays in 2015. Good depth signing.
Yeah, six years ago it would have been.
He’s only 30, this year in 14.1 Innings with the Mets he was solid. 0.63 ERA. 0.7 WAR
2017. 3.92 ERA in 11 starts. That’s more recent.
Didn’t notice that at best he can be a mentor for those young guys.
Yep that is what Big Al does…depth signing after depth signing…time to get an impact or two to help these kids over the next few years
“Big Al” spins around in circles, blindly flinging darts in hopes to eventually hit something of value.
Maybe because that’s what all GM’s do when still in rebuilding mode. This is the year to see what the kids can actually do so you know what positions to shop for next off-season. Never mind the fact that a new collective bargaining agreement looms after this season, which could have some big changes in it. Why give up a comp pick to sign someone this year, in another wasted year, when you might not lose one next year, if there even is a season in 2022. I’m not defending the guy, but arm-chair GM’s are just that, and really have no idea what goes on behind the scenes of a billion dollar sports franchise. And how many top guys really want to play for Detroit right now? A year or two down the road maybe, but not this year.
So you’d prefer Al gives Tanaka or another FA a big Zimmerman contract and that buries 1 or more prospects in the minors? You’d make a great GM with that strategy.
Nice pickup for Detroit. Could give them some depth in the rotation/bullpen and if he could do what he did for Tampa, could make for a trade piece.
Oh.
He pitched well for the Mets last year. Good luck to him going forward.
He pitched real well last year I’m shocked he couldn’t get a mlb contract
Teams were too scared to offer him an MLB Contract. He only pitched 14.1 Innings too low of a sample size. But just because he signed a Minor Lague pact I fully expect he will be on the MLB roster if spring training goes well for him.
So how do u suggest they handle the Porter debacle?
This is the wrong comment section for that topic.
No it isn’t! Who doesn’t want to talk about the latest Mutts huge embarrassment! The GM pounding off on the phone! All the Mutts fans are hiding today in shame!
All that I was saying is that this Comment section is about the Erasmo Ramirez signing. Not the Portor firing. There is a separate post which if you want to discuss the events you can talk there.
didnt they fire him already?
Yes, they did.
I’m a Tiger fan and a regular Trade Rumors visitor.
Some day….some day….I will come to the MLB TR site and see an actual meaningful story on something the Tigers have done.
Hope I live to see it.
Well, it’s not like they are contending right now. I mean if you showed up to this site 9 or 10 years ago you would’ve seen some stories like Signing Justin Upton, Trading for Prince, or David Price. But today the team is focused on building up a strong core. Not going out and signing/trading for amazing players. That was the old tigers. You should welcome in the new. They are doing a very good job so far I see.
Cubswin108: Honest question: Given the Cubs current state of affairs (whatever that is exactly), what do you believe they would let Contreras go to the Yankees for? True current market deal, considering recent trades.
Judging from the recent Darvish trade. I feel the most likely package would be a few prospects. I also believe that we would also get Gary as he could replace Contreras at the Catcher’s position. I also feel another possible person of interest could be Miguel Andújar. It seems more and more likely that the Yankees are not looking to have Miguel Andújar in their future plans and I think he could bounce back in a place like Chicago. This would also give us more reason to ship Bryant off for some good prospects as well. I feel the team is in a bit of a retool. We are not going to totally suck like the bottom feeders of the league but we won’t be contending. But if Theo could take a team with no talent and turn it into a World Series-winning club. I’m sure Hoyer can turn this situation around. I feel the future would be Rizzo at 1st. Miguel Andújar or David Bote at 3rd Gary maybe? at C. Nico at SS or 2b, (Depends on if Baez stays or not which I feel he will resign with the cubs) Heyward in RF and I hope we can have some prospects break out for the outfield which is a weak spot.
Not contending because they are not trying. PERIOD.
The story is meaningful. What the Tigers did is what lacks meaning.
Most, if not all, teams can use a guy who is capable of starting or long relief. Teams sound like they are going to watch starters inning count even more this coming season.
The tigers clear goal is to get length out of their bullpen. He fits that bill. Seeing as there are very few guys with guaranteed spots, I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes the roster. Decent no risk signing.
They still need a catcher, 2nd baseman and 1st baseman/corner OF. Hopefully alivila has some more tricks up his sleeve soon
He was very good for the Mets last year. I was hoping they would bring him back.
Wish the Mets kept him and Shreve, both affordable reliable arms
Welcome aboard Arasmo, go Tigs! I like it. Now, let’s sign or make a trade for a Catcher!!!
Erasmo Ramirez pitched ok in Tampa and Seattle which are pitchers ballparks. In 2019 he was bad for the Red Sox in Pawtucket and Boston. I hope for Detroit’s sake that he will stay in AAA as a depth option without needing to be brought up.
This is a decent pickup. Low risk signing with a decent chance he will become a serviceable pitcher for the team, or a trade piece.
Don’t forget J.D. Martinez was signed on a minor league deal having just been released by the Astros in 2013. You have to keep rolling the dice with these seemingly insignificant pieces at nothing prices because every once in a while, you’ll catch lightning in a bottle.
I wish the Tigers would do more JDM like signings. This is not like that, however. Erasmo has no time left in his arb years. He is not a recent top prospect. He is not on the right side of 30. DD always looked for the pitcher with the live arm, that could throw hard. Avila seems to like the pitch to contact guy. Its almost like he never watched when working for DD.
This is the biggest signing in the history of the Detroit Tigers. The money shows a commitment to winning now. Ramirez can swing right or left and now how to use his feet to elevate. With a rubber arm, he might pitch in 60 games this season. I am planning a World Series celebration.
Why not. Lots of questions marks on the pitching staff. Maybe he can find a spot in the bullpen, with some spot starts, and have success.
Why do the Tigers sign only baseball garbage? Avila, Ilitch—what is these guys’ problem?
Hey people, what’s going on is horse hockey – the Chris Illich sport…..HORSE HOCKEY!
AN ENTIRE ALL STAR INFIELD COULD BE HAD FOR ABOUT 40-60 million.
Instant contenders.
Why no takers?
I object!
Turner,Didi,Simmons,Seimans,Wong,LaMahue….add it up people……
Apparently
Face it, Simmons and Wong or preffered
LaMahue
Are better for pitching than Goodrum and Castro learning to field…..
Trade pitching = helping the era.
Hey, if they can’t put a decent product out, they DESERVE TO LOSE MONEY.
Just who do you think they think they are? Justin Bieber or something?