The Phillies have agreed to terms on a minor league contract with left-hander Cesar Ramos, reports SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo (on Twitter). The Wasserman client will add a southpaw with considerable Major League experience to Philadelphia’s depth chart.
Ramos, 32, opened the 2016 season with the Rangers and made four starts plus a dozen relief appearances before being released in late July. The 6.04 ERA, 11.3 H/9 and 2.3 HR/9 yielded by Ramos in his brief 47 2/3 inning stint with Texas weren’t pretty, but prior to that he’d enjoyed a nice run as a bullpen lefty with the Rays and Angels. From 2011-15, Ramos tossed 276 innings of 3.49 ERA ball, averaging 7.2 strikeouts and 3.6 walks per nine innings pitched. His ground-ball rate has fluctuated a bit over the years, but his career average is a solid 45.5 percent. Ramos has also held lefties in check reasonably well, limiting same-handed opponents to a .250/.314/.339 batting line.
The Phillies don’t have much certainty among left-handed relievers. Hard-throwing Joely Rodriguez is currently the only lefty projected in their big league bullpen, though starter Adam Morgan could also get a look due to the fact that the rotation looks to be full without him. The Phils have also added southpaw Sean Burnett as a non-roster invite this offseason, so he’ll be among the arms with which Ramos is competing for a roster spot this spring.
Mets need to start making small moves like these for lefties since they supposedly are out of money until (IF) they trade Jay Bruce
I really don’t understand the anger or rage by commenter below over a minor league signing which since the Phillies only have one lefty reliever makes sense. They’re gonna do there thing. I still think they’ll make 2 big moves before Spring Training and by big move not Howie Kendrick lol
Texas I suppose won’t be giving rave reviews of the guy. Hopefully he finds them in Philly.
Back with the rave reviews
So are you saying that your reviews of him aren’t rave?
Klentak gives a raving review about Ramos.
Wow. Klentak keeps cleaning out the landfills. Thank you Phillies ownership for dumping Amaro, than hire a GM who nearly does the same damn thing.
SIGN SOME TALENT !
Do you understand where the Phillies are right now? Understand the team before you post. He’s been fine not making moves just to make moves.
I have to agree, the Phillies aren’t really in much of a position to make big free agent splashes right now…they have done a nice job of retooling their young talent, it wouldn’t make sense for them to sign anyone to a larger contract right now
Phillies are where their at, BECAUSE THEY CHOOSE TO BE THERE !. The stupidity of people is endless it appears, You a Hinkie fan by chance ?
Prospects don’t guarantee you any success !!!!!! Spew how their trying to win with KIDS, but than go and sign 30 somethings, who arent very good. That’s just stupidity ! So you’re gonna sign mediocre 30 somethings to groom young kids ? Brilliance that is, NOT !
They have PLENTY of cash and they choose to sign scrubs off the trash pile, thats why their in this situation you cry about. There’s not one kid currently on the phillies that has a great chance at being an elite player in the big leagues ! Franco ? Please, the kid will be a strikeout machine for a career it appears. How did that “Prospect” Asche work out for ya ? Altherr ?
It’s just a minor league deal. Every team makes signings like this. There’s a AAA roster that needs to be filled out and the depth is needed for when injuries inevitably happen
You don’t understand how baseball works
Go back to your Jerry Lewis telethon. Altherr was injured and Franco is only 25. Hitters get more disciplined with age. See Mike Schmidt. Asche I will give you. Klentak knows what he is doing.
How did prospects work out for the Cubs? How about all the aces that have come up through the Giants system,not to mention position players like Buster Posey?Cardinals are occasional spenders,yet they always seem to stay competitive.Nationals and Dodgers have been spending every year the last few years,neither have won a championship.even when the Yankees have won,they won with players like Jeter,Pettitte,Cano,Rivera,Bernie Williams.Even when the Braves had their run,they developed players like Glavine,Chipper,Justice,Gant.Smoltz was a prospect when they got him.Greg Maddux wasnt winning cy youngs in Chicago before they got him.Who was the big name free agent on the 08 team? Pedro Feliz?
Nobody denies the prospects drafted and developed under Ruben Amaro were mostly busts.that’s how we got where we are.but that 08 team was mostly developed.and then they went out and aquired Halladay,and Lee,and Oswalt,and Pence.Remember the 80s when the Phillies were aggressive and tried to buy wins.we ended up with Von Hayes and Lance Parrish.
Develop,see what ya have,then fill in where it’s needed.
I agree they really should ink Mark Trumbo and Jose Bautista to multi year contracts complete with no trade clauses. When Klentak is done he can maybe work a deal to acquire an expensive closet. Maybe he can acquire Pujols from the Angels or Votto from the Reds. Did I miss anything here dude? Tell me because I can tell you know a ton about the inner workings of the Phillies brain trust.
Expensive closer AND closet too!
So a ton of caps and calling people stupid and then showing that you don’t know anything about how GM’s rebuild a roster…the Phillies are in the position they’re in because they held on to Rollins/Utley/Howard too long and didn’t get anything in return for them when they fell from their franchise player type production…they’re a year or two away from making a splash in free agency in my opinion but I guess I should shut up because I don’t know as much as you seem to
Agreed. This is not the time to start making gaudy moves. Just fill out the roster, continue mining talent out of the minors, and get into next year’s FA sweepstakes.
It could turn out to be a good move if he is in the bullpen. As he was good in the bullpen with the angels until the end of the season in 2015
Like this move.he’s 1 of the lefties on the market that I liked.minimum cost,could be valuable if he works out.Leftie,can be an effective situational reliever,or he could give us a couple innings out the pen when needed.could also allow us to send Rodriguez down if his minimal success doesn’t carry over.
Neris,Benoit,Neshek,Gomez,Burnett,E.Ramos,C.Ramos could be nice pen if they pitch to their capabilities.
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