The Braves inked Harold Ramírez to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Gwinnett. The news was announced (on X) by Gwinnett broadcaster Dave Lezotte.
It’s the third organization of the season for the right-handed hitting outfielder. Ramírez began the year with the Rays. He struggled over the first couple months and was released in June. He caught on with the Nationals, where he hit .243/.273/.365 in just under a month of play. Washington released him last week.
Between the two teams, Ramírez hit .261/.280/.324 across 246 plate appearances. A dearth of walks or power left him with a fairly empty batting average. Ramírez was a much more productive hitter between 2022-23. He combined for a .306/.348/.432 slash in nearly 900 trips over that two-year stretch in Tampa Bay. He made an extremely aggressive offensive approach work with good bat-t0-ball skills and a willingness to hit all fields. Ramírez feasted on left-handed pitching, teeing off a .374/.412/.509 clip with the platoon advantage.
There’s no downside for Atlanta in sending him to Gwinnett to see if he can recapture some of that form. The Rays are responsible for Ramírez’s $3.8MM salary. If the Braves call him up, they’d only need to pay the prorated portion of the $740K minimum for any time he’s on the MLB roster. Ramírez would technically be eligible for arbitration and controllable through 2025 in that instance, but he’d need a monster finish to the season for Atlanta to consider tendering him a contract that’d likely top $4MM.
Jorge Soler is back in tonight’s starting lineup after missing a few games with a hamstring issue. That should push Ramón Laureano back to the bench. Laureano, who played poorly enough early in the year that the Guardians released him, has rebounded with a .284/.318/.520 slash in 29 games for Atlanta. He has solidified his roster spot in the process. Barring injury, Ramírez’s best path to a job would be to replace Adam Duvall. The Braves have stuck by Duvall, who has mashed lefties (.260/.350/.529) but been unplayable against righty pitching (.146/.184/.224).
Ramírez would be eligible for postseason play if the Braves wanted to give him a look. That’s true regardless of whether he’s on the 40-man roster by September 1. Players who are in an organization on a non-roster deal by the start of the month can participate in the playoffs if the commissioner’s office approves them as injury substitutes. That’s a formality and happens with a couple players around the league in most years.
As long as it’s not Tim Anderson
Why aren’t the braces giving tim Anderson a shot? Could there be another reason why? ?
The Braves are big on locker room culture and chemistry. Tim “today’s Jackie Robinson” Anderson would probably not be a good fit
Are you serious? Their best player is Ozuna. Not the best guy around.
Ozuna has seen the light. When you act respectful, respect is returned.
So his wife learned to be respectful after he threatened to kill her with his hands wrapped around her throat. I’m sure he’s areal good dude now.
Stinks. Problem player. Thinks he’s an MLB icon. I don’t know.
I’m rooting for him! Seems like a nice guy all around.
Harold Ramirez to be dfa’d next week.
No need to dfa a guy on a mil contract that’s not on the 40 man roster.
Better than Duvall!
Hey, letting Duvall pursue other opportunities is maybe the only positive thing Craig Breslow has done.
Was hoping for heyward to sign just for sentimental reasons.
That sentiment would leave you quickly.
I ain’t afraid of no ghost
I’d rather have Hayward than this guy. At least Heyward can play the field. Rameraz can’t
I agree, but doesn’t Heyward make, like, three times what Ramirez does?
Hey give good speech
Heyward is not a clear cut fit for the Braves
Everyone signs Harold…..
Let me be the first to say, efff yew roku
Why can finally watch a Nats game and it’s not blocked by MLB that I paid for?