The Angels have acquired lefty Cesar Ramos from the Rays in exchange for righty Mark Sappington, Los Angeles announced. This mark’s the day’s second swap for the Halos.
Ramos, 30, has spent most of his time in the pen but did make seven starts in 2014 for Tampa. He ultimately threw 82 2/3 frames of 3.70 ERA ball, with 7.2 K/9 against 4.2 BB/9. Ramos has generally been better against lefties, but does not have huge platoon splits over his career. He was, however, much more effective working out of the pen.
MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects that Ramos will take home $1.3MM in his second year of arbitration eligibility, making him a cheap and controllable add for an Angels club that has rather a bare cupboard in terms of left-handed relievers. That he can provide swingman capability as well is a nice bonus.
Sappington, meanwhile, is a 23-year-old right-hander who came into the 2014 season rated as the Halos’ fifth-best prospect by Baseball America. He took a big step back, however, and struggled mightily in a starting role. A demotion and mid-season move to the bullpen revitalized Sappington, however, as Mike DiGiovanna wrote recently for Baseball America. A long-term move to the pen had always seemed a distinct possibility, and Sappington’s big fastball and biting slider make him a potentially valuable power arm. (Over 32 relief frames last year at High-A, Sappington struck out 49 and walked ten.)
Good luck to Ramos. I hope they give him a chance to start in ST.
He probably will. Skaggs is out until 2016, and Richards is a question mark until maybe the early part of the 2015 season, and a shaky CJ Wilson. They picked up Tropeano, which is another step in the right direction in terms of rotation depth, but I can see both of them in the rotation, at least for spring.
Richards will likely be ready for opening day.
I know he’s planned to be healed up and ready to pitch by then, but I’m fairly certain the organization are taking precautions in terms of rotation depth.
They’ve been planning on acquiring organizational depth like this since last offseason. It would’ve happened any way.
Good pickup for Los Angeles.
Sappington is certainly a dirty pitcher. High strikeout rate but has terrible control with his 2:1 K/BB ratio. We’ll see what becomes of him.
If there is any team that can capitalize on a player like this, it’s the Rays. They did turn Fernando Rodney’s career around.
I know your comment came before MLBTR edited some info in on Sappington, but after moving full time to the ‘pen, he put up a 4.9:1 K/BB mark. I can only see him getting better in the Rays orginization.
Yes. I did not see that until now. We won’t see him in the MLB for at least a couple years but he sounds like a top talent by what scouts are saying.
Halo’s have had a busy day that’s for sure
Definitely a smart move of the Angels to act early. They know what they need and are willing to trade early in order to figure out where they can go from there. To have two stopgaps for their rotation that are very controllable is HUGE. They don’t have to do any more major lifting if they don’t want to.
This all day!
well considering we only have 3 spots as almost locks to be in the starting rotation in weaver wilson and shoemaker. We will have two spots open for the likes of ramos,tropeano, possibly rasmus if they wanna make him a starter, santiago, and anyone else in triple A/pickups in the offseason.
at least until richards comes back around may/june?
Supposed to start the season. Next question.
actually Richards is doing well with his rehab so he could be ready as soon as opening day. I do like their rotation next year with weaver/Richards/shoemaker/Wilson/tropeano or rasmus angels are sure to be improved
Things have changed in the last 3 months.
With it being hockey and football season i havent paid much attention to his rehab. If he is ready by opening day or shortly after that would be great. We could do weaver richards shoemaker wilson and tropeano or rasmus if they decide to do that with santiago and ramos as long guys in the pen/6th starters. We would be in much better shape then we were last year.
I pretty much typed the same thing lol
Shoemaker was great in 2014 for sure but Im not counting on him replicating his ace performance in 2015.
His peripherals matched his performance.
Most pitchers can’t, but Shoe’s overall numbers were mostly in sync with his peripherals, which means it’s very likely he will repeat in 2015.
I don’t think Andrew Friedman would have allowed this move. By looking at their numbers Tampa got hosed.
Disagree. Ramos types are a dime a dozen. You can pick them up for a B prospect any day of the off-season. Kid they got has filthy stuff and is still young. That’s a deal you do and don’t look back.
Have you seen Sapington’s AAA numbers?
That was before his move from the rotation to the bullpen. He’s very good, not amazing, and so far it’s looking like a fairly even trade.
For Salt Lake in the hitter friendly PCL?
Well I guess Sappington won’t survive in the hitter friendly AL East ballparks then.
Those ballparks aren’t 4,000 to 7,000 feet above sea level. And there’s plenty of room for further development.
Yeah by looking at his walks he has alot of control issues, hitter friendly parks or not.
Ten walks in 32 innings as a reliever isn’t too terrible. I bet the Rays will be able help even more with control.
ive never really seen ramos play he could be a reliable lefty out of the pen sappington I hate to say will probably never be much more than a relief guy for the rays he just isn’t starter material imo
Let’s not start putting Friedman on a pedestal. He made his share of mistakes. But this was a fair trade for both sides.
Freidman would have been fine trading a 30 year old swing man for a 23 year old pitching prospect with upside. This is one of those trade that just fit both team’s needs.
Meh, Ramos was going to be a non-tender candidate and they needed to make some room on the 40 man roster anyways. Beliveau is slotted to be the lefty in the bullpen and did pretty well when he played.
Hey Angels fans, Mark Buehrle + $5 million cash for Howie Kendrick?
No thanks! Halos are trying to shed payroll or acquire cost controlled player in exchange for Kendrick not pay Mark Buehrle 14 MM next year.
Why would we do that. Cost Controlled Pitcher or nada.
Dipoto getting busy early this year
Yeah no kidding.
probably going to be a quiet offseason though
Not going to see any big name free agent signing this offseason but after the way the Pujols, Hamilton and Wilson deals have gone thats probably a good thing.
I agree they are pretty much set now for their starting rotation at least till next year now they can just focus on the bullpen by signing a few more key pieces and sign a few utility type players as backups. They could still trade Howie so that possibility still remains
Get your cake early! Smart timing. Smart moves. Wonder if they’ll even trade Kendrick now.
Hopefully not. Beckham and Green aren’t even half as good as Kendrick.
Desperate rotation depth gained from trading Sappington + Conger not bad Jedi. I’m still so torn about giving Andrew Miller the money he is going to ask for but it would round out this team nicely.
Smart moves. Makes me wonder if they’re even trading Kendrick or Freese.
Kendrick more likely due to his large salary freese can wait until he is a free agent next year
Trade Freese (6 MM) to free up payroll space if necessary. I have far more confidence in Gordon Beckham matching Freese’s production than Kendrick’s.
I only said Kendrick over freese because the angels could get a lot more in return for him than in freese Kendrick=solid young pitching prospects freese=relief pitcher
Little chance Beckham will even match Freese’s offensive production. Freese posted a 103 OPS+. Beckham hasn’t reached 90 OPS+ since his rookie season. Unless an amazing package presents itself, I’m thinking today’s moves are an indication they’re keeping both.
I’ve been hearing frequently people describing Howie’s contract has large but it’s really not. His salary is bumping up to $9 million. Only a $1 million raise.
And for his production, I think, is worth more on the open market than what we’re paying.
That’s a great value for the Angels, especially at a position where there are no MLB ready replacements. If they really wanted to save $10 or so, they’d be better suited to non-tender Salas, Jepsen, Beckham, Freese and LeBlanc. Throw Grant Green at 3rd.
I really like what the Angels are doing. Hopefully this means they’ll go after an extension with Kendrick. Freese can stay at 3B one more year until (hopefully) Baldoquin takes over.
honestly im glad they traded him. he wasnt good. he got in ALOT of trouble and never could get out of it. does not throw hard, his curve ball is decent but can not spot it consistently. im surprised the Rays were even able to get something for him.
Probably because he was stretched out as a starter for the first time and had to make 7 starts that inflated his numbers. His numbers are far better as a reliever than as a starter.
Ramos was decent as a middle man but not a starter for the Rays. Happy to give someone else a shot.