Angels To Sign Neil Ramirez
The Angels have inked righty Neil Ramirez to a minor-league deal, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (via Twitter). It seems safe to assume he’ll receive an invitation to MLB Spring Training.
Ramirez, 30, has continued to get opportunities even as the results continue to disappoint. He’s a 4.46 ERA pitcher through 179 2/3 innings in the majors, with most of the good frames coming in his first two seasons in the league.
It’s not hard to see why teams keep thinking Ramirez might turn the corner. He throws 95 and gets a good number of swinging strikes (13.9% last year). But his command will likely always be in question, as evidenced by his career 4.8 BB/9 walk rate and worrying propensity to surrender the long ball (30 in his last 122 innings).
Neil Ramirez Elects Free Agency
Righty Neil Ramirez has elected free agency from the Blue Jays, according to the International League transactions page. He had been outrighted by the Toronto organization but had the right to decline the assignment.
It remains to be seen whether Ramirez will draw any interest on the open market. With less than a month left in the regular season and the minor leagues already engaged in playoff battles, there isn’t a ton of room for opportunity.
Still, it’s possible that some team will find a need for an experienced reliever and decide to give a run to the 30-year-old. He certainly wasn’t in top form this year, working to a 5.40 ERA with 8.6 K/9 and 5.4 BB/9 — along with an unhealthy 2.5 homers per nine — in 25 total MLB innings. But Ramirez did punch out 51 batters on strikes in 41 2/3 frames last year and has sported a hefty 13.8 K/9 strikeout rate in minor-league action in 2019.
Outrighted: Ramirez, Wilkerson
The tidal wave of September call-ups earlier this week resulted in nearly two dozen players being designated for assignment to create space on 40-man rosters throughout the league. While some of those players will be claimed by new organizations, we’ll track Wednesday’s collection of players who went unclaimed in this post:
- Right-hander Neil Ramirez cleared waivers and was assigned outright to the Blue Jays‘ Triple-A affiliate, per the International League transactions log. Ramirez averaged 11 strikeouts per nine innings pitched with the Indians in 2018 (51 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings) but has bounced all over the league dating back to 2016. His ability to miss bats has continually intrigued clubs, but Ramirez has also been far too prone to both walks and home runs. In 25 innings between Cleveland and Toronto this season, he posted a 5.40 ERA with a 24-to-15 K/BB ratio and seven home runs allowed.
- The Brewers assigned right-hander Aaron Wilkerson to Triple-A San Antonio after he went unclaimed on waivers, per a team announcement. The 30-year-old was very good in 76 1/3 innings spanning 17 starts in San Antonio in 2019, logging a 3.42 ERA with 9.6 K/9, 3.4 BB/9, 1.18 HR/9 and a 37.5 percent grounder rate. However, Wilkerson also allowed 13 runs in 16 big league innings this year and was tagged for 10 runs in nine MLB frames a season ago. He’s enjoyed plenty of success in the upper minors dating back to 2017 but owns just a 6.88 ERA with 28 strikeouts, 13 walks and nine home runs allowed in 35 1/3 innings as a Major Leaguer.
Blue Jays Reinstate Ryan Tepera, Designate Neil Ramirez
The Blue Jays announced today they’ve reinstated right-handed reliever Ryan Tepera from the 60-day injured list. Fellow righty Neil Ramírez has been designated for assignment in a corresponding move.
Tepera, a reliable middle reliever in Toronto between 2017-2018, has been limited to eleven big league innings this season by right elbow troubles. He’s not been especially productive at any level in 2019, but he’ll have a month to pitch his way into the team’s 2020 plans. Tepera agreed to a $1.525MM contract to avoid arbitration last winter and comes with two additional seasons of control, but the 31 year-old could be a non-tender candidate if he doesn’t return to form. He’s been in the Blue Jays organization since they used a 19th-round pick on him in 2009.
Ramírez is being cut loose by his second organization this season. Signed to a minor-league deal after being released by the Indians, Ramírez was added to the Jays’ active roster after just one minor-league appearance. Over 8.1 innings north of the border, he allowed five runs with six strikeouts and walks apiece, continuing a trying season for the former Cub.
Blue Jays To Select Neil Ramirez, Transfer Ryan Borucki To 60-Day IL
The Blue Jays will select the contract of right-handed reliever Neil Ramírez, tweets Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. To clear 40-man space for Ramírez, the club has transferred left-hander Ryan Borucki to the 60-day injured list. Reliever Jason Adam was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo to clear active roster space.
While the club considered recalling outfielder Billy McKinney– to the point he was in the clubhouse before today’s game- he’ll remain off the roster for the time being, Davidi adds (via Twitter). The club had been contemplating an IL stint for reliever Ken Giles, but an encouraging game of catch today convinced the club to hold off shelving Giles for the time being.
Ramírez gets the call after pitching just one game for the Jays’ Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo. The 30 year-old signed a minor-league contract just last week after being cut loose by Cleveland. He pitched in 16 games for Cleveland earlier this season, giving up far too many home runs to hold a job in their strong bullpen. While he hasn’t been productive in either of the last two seasons, Ramírez was quite good with the 2014-15 Cubs and still boasts above-average velocity and fastball and curveball spin, so it’s easy to see why the Jays would give him a shot. He’ll make only the prorated portion of the league minimum (Cleveland remains on the hook for the rest of his $1M salary), and can be tendered in arbitration one final season if the Jays like what they see down the stretch.
Adam, a 28 year-old righty, was optioned after five appearances. While he allowed just one run in seven innings in Toronto, he only struck out five against three walks. Like Ramírez, Adam relies on a high-spin four-seam/curveball pairing.
Borucki’s transfer is just a formality. He’s out for the season after a recent bone spur surgery. Before his injury-plagued 2019, the 25 year-old looked like a potential back-end starter for Toronto. He’ll have ample opportunity to claim a job in a rotation in flux next spring.
Blue Jays To Sign Neil Ramirez
TODAY: The deal is done, per Scott Mitchell of TSN (via Twitter). It’s a minors pact.
YESTERDAY: The Blue Jays are closing in on a contract with free-agent reliever Neil Ramirez, according to Roster Roundup. It’s unclear whether it’ll be a major league pact for Ramirez, whom the Indians released Aug. 2.
A veteran of several organizations, the 30-year-old Ramirez cracked Cleveland’s bullpen earlier this season and struggled to a 5.40 ERA/6.57 FIP in 16 2/3 innings. Ramirez logged a solid number of strikeouts (9.72 K/9), which he has done throughout his career, though he also issued 4.86 walks per nine and posted a paltry 25.0 percent groundball rate. The right-hander wasn’t that much more successful this season as a member of the Tribe’s Triple-A team, with which he recorded a 4.91 ERA/5.11 FIP. Ramirez did, however, manage 13.81 K/9 against 3.38 BB/9 during that 29 1/3-inning span.
A deal with the Blue Jays could present a quick path back to the majors for Ramirez, as the team dealt relievers Daniel Hudson, Joe Biagini and David Phelps prior to last week’s trade deadline. Out-of-contention Toronto’s now stuck with a fairly uninspiring group of options in front of closer Ken Giles.
Indians Release Neil Ramirez, Trayce Thompson
Right-hander Neil Ramirez and outfielder Trayce Thompson have been granted their release from the Indians organization, per an announcement from the team’s Triple-A affiliate. Both former big leaguers are free agents and can now sign with another club.
Ramirez, 30, was with the Indians earlier this season but struggled to a 5.40 ERA and allowed five home runs in 16 2/3 innings. Ramirez notched an 18-to-9 K/BB ratio in that time and has a lengthy history of missing bats, but he’s struggled to throw strikes and command the ball within the zone throughout his career. In 171 1/3 innings as a Major Leaguer, he’s logged a 4.41 ERA with 10.8 K/9, 4.7 BB/9, 1.63 HR/9 and a 30.1 percent ground-ball rate.
Thompson, the younger brother of NBA star Klay Thompson, played 51 big league games between the White Sox and the A’s in 2018. The No. 61 overall pick by the White Sox in the 2009 draft, the now-28-year-old Thompson was a fairly well-regarded minor league talent but hasn’t found sustained success. He’s batted .206/.276/.389 in 589 MLB plate appearances and was hitting .219/.294/.482 with 24 homers, 10 doubles, three triples and eight steals in 89 Triple-A games this season. Strikeouts have increasingly become an issue for Thompson, as evidenced by this year’s 36.1 percent rate in Columbus.
Neil Ramirez Accepts Outright Assignment With Indians
Reliever Neil Ramirez will remain in the Indians organization after he cleared outright waivers but accepted an assignment to Triple-A. The club announced the move.
Ramirez avoided arbitration with the Indians over the offseason, striking a $1MM deal. That contract helps explain why he would agree to stick around rather than heading out in search of a better opportunity. With more than three but less than five years of service, he can choose free agency but would have to give up the remaining guarantee to do so.
Of course, it’s also true that the Cleveland organization helped Ramirez revive what had been a moribund career. He had bounced around quite a bit before settling in with the Indians and throwing 41 2/3 innings of 4.54 ERA ball last year.
Ramirez, who turns 30 on Saturday, struggled out of the gates in 2019. His home run issues from a year ago deepened, as he allowed five in 16 2/3 innings. He’s still producing a healthy 14.3% swinging-strike rate and working in the mid-nineties with his fastball, but clearly needs to tune things up if he’s to get back to being a productive MLB reliever.
Indians Recall Adam Plutko, DFA Neil Ramirez
Adam Plutko was recalled from Triple-A to make the start in today’s ballgame for the Cleveland Indians, while Neil Ramirez was DFA’ed to make room, per The Athletic’s Zack Meisel (via Twitter). The team has announced the deal.
Plutko, 27, made 12 starts for the Indians last season, going 4-5 with a 5.28 ERA, 6.10 FIP, and 5.46 xFIP. An injury delayed his start to the season in Triple-A, but despite going 0-2 in his two starts with a 10.13 ERA, Cleveland apparently deems him ready. Still, they are likely to watch his pitch count today against Baltimore. With Corey Kluber on the shelf for potentially a month or so, there is need of a near-term solution for the Indians in the rotation. Jefry Rodriguez seems to have claimed the number four spot in the rotation after posting a 3.45 ERA in his first five starts, but the fifth spot in the rotation is there for the taking. Given Plutko’s usage last season, he would seem the logical candidate, though he’ll need to prove rather quickly that he’s fully up to speed. Cody Anderson could return despite his early struggles, and Chih-Wei Hu has also started slow in Triple-A with a 5.71 ERA thus far. A.J. Cole has starting experience as well, but he’s performed well out of the pen so far in 2019 and the Indians may not want to mess with a good thing there if they can help it.
Ramirez, 29, was 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA across 16 appearances. Originally a Rangers farmhand, Ramirez has put together largely forgettable seasons after two strong years with the Cubs in 2014 and 2015. Ramirez bounced around with the Cubs, Brewers, Twins, Giants and Mets in 2016 and 2017 before joining the Indians last year. He was reasonably productive last season for the Tribe, with 11.02 K/9 versus 3.89 BB/9, a 2.83 K/BB ratio that was his best since the Chicago days (save for a 9-game stint with the Giants). This season, the strikeout rate went down, the walk rate up, and he surrendered five home runs in just 16 2/3 innings of work.
Indians Place Bradley Zimmer On DL, Select Neil Ramirez
The Indians announced today that they’ve placed outfielder Bradley Zimmer on the 10-day DL. He’ll be replaced on the active roster by righty Neil Ramirez, whose contract was selected. Clearing a 40-man spot was accomplished by shifting lefty Ryan Merritt to the 60-day DL.
Zimmer has been diagnosed with a left rib contusion, which does not seem likely to keep him out for too terribly long. The 25-year-old outfielder has been struggling quite a bit, with a .224/.283/.337 slash and 39 strikeouts through his first 106 plate appearances on the season.
The 28-year-old Ramirez, meanwhile, will again look to reestablish himself in the majors. He was once a quality pen option with the Cubs but has struggled in recent years. Ramirez was throwing quite well at Triple-A, compiling 17 2/3 innings of 2.55 ERA ball with a whopping 15.8 K/9 against just 1.5 BB/9.