The Red Sox claimed catcher Max Ramirez from the Rangers, according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan (on Twitter). Boston's interest in Ramirez is well-documented; last offseason the Rangers and Red Sox discussed a deal that would have sent Mike Lowell to Texas for Ramirez.
The Red Sox announced that they designated right-hander Matt Fox for assignment to create roster space for Ramirez. Boston claimed Fox off of waivers from the Twins on September 9th and he recorded five outs in a Red Sox uniform. The 2004 supplementary first rounder posted a 3.95 ERA with 7.6 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 in 123 innings for the Twins' Triple-A affiliate last year.
The Rangers designated Ramirez for assignment last week to create roster space for Brandon Webb and Arthur Rhodes. The team already has three backstops on its 40-man roster: Taylor Teagarden, Yorvit Torrealba and Matt Treanor.
Ramirez appeared in 28 games for the Rangers last year, batting .217/.341/.348 in 85 plate appearances. The 26-year-old has spent most of his seven-year pro career in the minors, where he has a .298/.396/.476 line.
Before the 2010 season, Baseball America wrote that Ramirez is "a plus hitter who works the count and drives the ball to all fields" when healthy. However, the publication described the catcher as a below-average defender with below-average arm strength and well below-average running speed.
Never hurts to have lots of catchers!
It does when they are crap
It still doesn’t hurt, it just doesn’t help as much as having a good catcher does.
Nice consolation prize for missing out on Martin.
Eh. Max Ramirez is terrible defensively, Martin is one of the best defensive catchers in the game.
Martin hasn’t played since breaking his hip and just recently had knee surgery. I think it’s a little off to call him “one of the best defensive catchers in the game.” Matt Williams was a great 3rd baseman at one point….doesn’t mean he still is
But Theo doesn’t want him for his defense.
Nice. Theo gets another long sought after price.
That’s like me buying 100,000 shares of Enron today.
Theo seems to usually get what he wants eventually.
Is there a reason Boston is collecting formerly promising Texas catchers?
They are like Pokemon, gotta catch em’ all.
Taylor “Boston Tea Party” Teagarden is the only survivor.
Sox have wicked good catching depth in the minors, i have a feeling there going switch him to DH-1B and hope he can catch on and stay healthy. best case is he can spell ortiz vs. left hand pitching at some point in the season.
I have a feeling he’s not going to make the 25 man roster.
dont think he will either but his minor league number suggest he could be at least useful
“Sox have wicked good catching depth in the minors”
How can people even think this? The complete opposite is true.
There’s a ton of depth! It’s just not all the highest quality.
He may have been overstating it but the complete opposite is actually farther from the truth. An accurate statement would be “Sox have reasonably good catching depth in the minors”. With Lavarnway, whose defense is not good but getting better and offense is outstanding, Exposito, Federowicz, Butler, and Ibarra all in their top 40 prospects along with Wagner who is not great but could be a backup right now I would say that they have reasonably good depth.
Maybe not the complete opposite but close, we do have 2. Lavarnway prob won’t make it as a catcher though.
Well, we do actually have the depth part. The quality of those players can be debated though.
It’s just to rub Texas’ nose in it for asking for Buchholz.
This move really puts the Red Sox over the top. Clear favorites now in the AL East.
I thought we were clear favorites when we signed Hector Luna?
Matt Albers!!!
TROT NIXON!
Just wait until we resign Pedro (for a day so he can retire as a member of the Red Sox) then we will be stacked!
I genuinely wish. Pedro’s pretty much a first ballot hall of famer and anything to increase the odds of him going into the hall with a Sox cap on (Which I figure is a given anyway, but I love Pedro and would get a kick out of it).
I genuinely wish. Pedro’s pretty much a first ballot hall of famer and anything to increase the odds of him going into the hall with a Sox cap on (Which I figure is a given anyway, but I love Pedro and would get a kick out of it).
@Matt Albers!!! – haha diehard o’s fan here honestly GOOD LUCK HE SUCKS
You play for the sox?!?!?
You play for the Pedants?
You guys don’t know what you’re talking about.
The Orioles became the clear favorite in AL East when they re-signed Cesar Izturis.
God this joke is getting tired. Just sayin’.
Thanks Kanye
Thanks Kanye
Thanks Kanye
Thanks Kanye
Wonder if Texas wants Mikey Lowel for him still ;-)
Yes because Mike Lowell is a FA and therefore free. It was never about the talent returning for Max Ramirez, it was about how much $$ the Red Sox would pick up.
I actually like this, he also has some (although limited) experience at first and third and bats right handed (heaven knows we could use that this year).
Its funny the Sox wanted Salty and Ramirez years ago, and now get them for free. Yes they have little value, but still funny.
They wanted Max last year. Mike Lowell trade.
I think the really funny thing about it was rangers fans saying Buchholz wasn’t even close to enough for Salty…same with Ramirez..This just proves the theory that ALL teams fans overvalue the prospects..
I’m probably more excited about this than I should be, and I’m not that excited.
When he got he released, I knew the Red Sox would go after him, he can come up if the have injury problems at catcher
You have to comment if you at first thought it said Manny Ramirez.
i did a doubletake!
Perhaps combined Salty and Ramirez, if they play defense together at the same time might form a pretty good catcher
True, Ramirez’ accuracy to the pitcher is far better than Salty’s.
Salty can call the game and catch, Ramirez will throw back to the pitcher and to potential basestealers, and they can both block pitches in the dirt.
Sounds pretty good to me.
Rube Baker’s, on the other hand, is absolutely awful.
i liked max. and he may have a future as a DH/1B, although i highly doubt its with the red sox. he was one BAD BAD BAD catcher though.
he is going to have to clear waivers again if they plan to put him in pawtucket. No room for him on the major league roster
won’t he have to pass through waivers again if the plan to send him to pawtucket? no room on the roster for him at the major league level
Salty can be moved down to AAA. I’m sure they will be a competition in spring training between the 2 of them.
I’m sure he’s got options.
Actually he’s out of options, that’s why he was put on waivers.
Lavarnaway, Exposito, federowitz, Ibarra, Butler plus three others in A ball all under 23 years old. Thiers no joe mauer types but theirs plenty of promise.
quantity over quality for sure. And I’m all right with that.
Better than Kevin Cash. Period.
Bucky Lagrange* is a better catcher than Cash.
*Didn’t catch the reference? The no-armed shortstop from Family Guy..
The Sox sure do like Texas’ catchers, too bad they all suck.
The Sox have just announced they signed Jim Sundberg as their quest to acquire every Ranger catcher.
Max will be a DH possibly replacing Big Papi in 2012.
no way he replaces papi. why waste a dh spot on an unproven kid. no i’m thinking they just start rotating through there roster and have no more full time dh when they let papi go. however my money is on him signing on the cheap for 1-2 more yrs.
While his line isn’t impressive, he still put up a solid OBP (10 points lower than VMart).
If he could hit .235, with a .360 OBP, he would be fine at the bottom of the lineup as a league minimum catcher….too bad he can’t catch.
Have they announced the parade route yet?
This is a guy that OPS’d 1.117 in AA/AAA as a 23 yr-old 2 years ago. It was wrist injuries in 2009 that killed his offensive value. But have we learned anything from Lowrie? These wrist injuries take time to fully heal, so I say this is a good non-risk/really-high-reward pick up.
Not a bad pickup by the Sox.
I doubt he will be used much as a catcher, more like a utility type right handed bat off the bench, who DH some and play a serviceable 1B. It also doesn’t hurt that he could catch in a pinch, and does have some (though limited) experience at 3B.
Nobody yet? Really? Alright, I’ve got it:
WE HAVE TO GO BACK…to the waiver wire.
(Groooooooannnnn)
**gets control of boston front office ** turns max ramirez into a 1B/LF/RF/DH
camfrommaine @twitter.com
Man if max does well, it wont be boston lol, i see them letting him go, and someone else grooming him , if he successful.
please qualify that remark
The guy is a plus hitter, which is the hardest part of baseball, at 26 I am sure they can increase arm strength and give him some things to work on to become more defensive, this was a great pick up by Boston so don;t throw the books at him yet until he has a chance to improve and show his bat, and why the negativity towards Lavarnway, that guy showed everyone in the AFL championship he is solid.
Van a tener que traducir esto…pero soy de venezuela y esta es la historia de max:
En 2002, Ramírez firmó como agente libre no reclutado internacionales por los Bravos de Atlanta .
Ramírez ha sido un All-Star de selección en tres ligas diferentes – el Apalaches ( 2005 ), Sally ( 2006 ) y Ligas Carolina ( 2007 ). También jugó en el 2007 All-Star Futures Game . Fue nombrado el Jugador de los Apalaches en el año 2005.
En 2006, Ramírez fue canjeado por los Bravos a los Indios de Cleveland por Bob Wickman .
En 2007, fue cambiado por Cleveland a los Rangers de Texas por Kenny Lofton . Ramírez hizo su debut en Rangers el 22 de junio, 2008 .
Después de la temporada 2008 terminó, Ramírez jugó en la Liga Venezolana de Invierno para los Tiburones de La Guaira . En 50 partidos, bateó para .298 con 15 jonrones , 53 carreras impulsadas y 42 carreras anotadas en el camino a ganar el Novato del Año “sobre su compatriota el receptor Pablo Sandoval .
Después de la temporada 2009 Ramírez cambiado a los Medias Rojas de Boston por Mike Lowell , pero el comercio fue cancelado debido a la ruptura del ligamento del pulgar de Lowell.
Después de los Rangers de Texas firmaron Arthur Rhodes en el 04 de enero 2011 Ramírez fue colocado en waivers para limpiar un lugar en la lista hombre de 40. Los Medias Rojas de Boston lo afirmó el 5 de enero de 2011.
el problema de max han sido las lesiones…asi que habra que darle una oportunidad
Ronald Reyes
Translation:
“You´ll have to translate this, but I am from Venezuela and this is Max´s history
In 2002, Ramirez signed as an international free agent by the Atlanta Braves.
Ramirez has been an All-Star in three different leagues–Apalaches in 2005, Sally in 2006, and the Carolina Leagues in 2007. He also played in the 2007 All-Star Futures game. He was named the Apalaches League Player of the Year in 2005
In 2006, Ramirez was traded to the Cleveland Indians for Bob Wickman.
In 2007, he was traded to the Texas Rangers for Kenny Lofton. He made his MLB Debut with the Rangers on June 22, 2008.
After the 2008 season, Ramirez played in the Venezuela Winter League for the Tiburones de la Guaira. In 50 games, he batted .298 with 15 HR and 53 RBI, 42 Runs Scored, being named rookie of the year (chosen over Pablo Sandoval)
After the 2009 season Ramirez was to be traded to the Boston Red Sox for Mike Lowell, but the deal fell through due to Lowell´s medical issues.
After the Rangers signed Arthur Rhodes on Jan. 4th, 2011, Ramirez was placed on waivers to make space on the 40-man roster. The Red Sox claimed him on Jan. 5
Max´s issues have been injuries… so we have to give him a shot”
Translation:
“You´ll have to translate this, but I am from Venezuela and this is Max´s history
In 2002, Ramirez signed as an international free agent by the Atlanta Braves.
Ramirez has been an All-Star in three different leagues–Apalaches in 2005, Sally in 2006, and the Carolina Leagues in 2007. He also played in the 2007 All-Star Futures game. He was named the Apalaches League Player of the Year in 2005
In 2006, Ramirez was traded to the Cleveland Indians for Bob Wickman.
In 2007, he was traded to the Texas Rangers for Kenny Lofton. He made his MLB Debut with the Rangers on June 22, 2008.
After the 2008 season, Ramirez played in the Venezuela Winter League for the Tiburones de la Guaira. In 50 games, he batted .298 with 15 HR and 53 RBI, 42 Runs Scored, being named rookie of the year (chosen over Pablo Sandoval)
After the 2009 season Ramirez was to be traded to the Boston Red Sox for Mike Lowell, but the deal fell through due to Lowell´s medical issues.
After the Rangers signed Arthur Rhodes on Jan. 4th, 2011, Ramirez was placed on waivers to make space on the 40-man roster. The Red Sox claimed him on Jan. 5
Max´s issues have been injuries… so we have to give him a shot”
Van a tener que traducir esto…pero soy de venezuela y esta es la historia de max:
En 2002, Ramírez firmó como agente libre no reclutado internacionales por los Bravos de Atlanta .
Ramírez ha sido un All-Star de selección en tres ligas diferentes – el Apalaches ( 2005 ), Sally ( 2006 ) y Ligas Carolina ( 2007 ). También jugó en el 2007 All-Star Futures Game . Fue nombrado el Jugador de los Apalaches en el año 2005.
En 2006, Ramírez fue canjeado por los Bravos a los Indios de Cleveland por Bob Wickman .
En 2007, fue cambiado por Cleveland a los Rangers de Texas por Kenny Lofton . Ramírez hizo su debut en Rangers el 22 de junio, 2008 .
Después de la temporada 2008 terminó, Ramírez jugó en la Liga Venezolana de Invierno para los Tiburones de La Guaira . En 50 partidos, bateó para .298 con 15 jonrones , 53 carreras impulsadas y 42 carreras anotadas en el camino a ganar el Novato del Año “sobre su compatriota el receptor Pablo Sandoval .
Después de la temporada 2009 Ramírez cambiado a los Medias Rojas de Boston por Mike Lowell , pero el comercio fue cancelado debido a la ruptura del ligamento del pulgar de Lowell.
Después de los Rangers de Texas firmaron Arthur Rhodes en el 04 de enero 2011 Ramírez fue colocado en waivers para limpiar un lugar en la lista hombre de 40. Los Medias Rojas de Boston lo afirmó el 5 de enero de 2011.
el problema de max han sido las lesiones…asi que habra que darle una oportunidad
Roth Konige