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AL West Notes: Ramirez, Iwakuma, Astros, Angels

The latest out of the AL West...

• Erasmo Ramirez has hurled 15 consecutive scoreless innings in Triple-A Tacoma, and Dave Cameron of the U.S.S. Mariner writes that it's time for him to be recalled and inserted back into the Mariners' rotation. However, he notes that both Jeremy Bonderman and Aaron Harang are coming off dominant outings against a weak Astros lineup, so cutting either would look bad for the team.
• While some pundits believe that now is the time to sell Hisashi Iwakuma at his peak value, Larry Stone of the Seattle Times writes that the Mariners are better off hanging onto their second ace. As Stone points out, GM Jack Zduriencik has whiffed on trades of established pitchers for young hitters in the past, and Iwakuma is too far from free agency to part with (he's controlled through 2015).
• Things look bleak for the Astros at the Major League level currently, but Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle writes that hope is on the horizon. Smith examines the wealth of talent at Double-A Corpus Christi, highlighted by Jonathan Singleton, George Springer and Mike Foltynewicz. Smith also discusses pitchers Jake Buchanan and David Martinez as well as left fielder Domingo Santana, whom he calls the team's "most underrated position-player prospect."
• Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com writes that trading prospects for short-term fixes has hurt the Angels, and notes the irony of GM Jerry Dipoto's situation. Dipoto was the interim GM of the D-backs when he traded Dan Haren to the Halos for a package highlighted by Tyler Skaggs and Patrick Corbin. Dipoto recalls the "bloodbath" that ensued in the Arizona media, who essentially called the deal highway robbery for the Angels. Dipoto tells Saxon that he was adamant Corbin be included the deal, noting that he and his staff had followed Corbin since his early days in junior college.

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