The Cubs have designated reliever Neil Ramirez for assignment, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times tweets. The move clears roster space for outfielder Matt Szczur, who was activated today. Jason Heyward’s MRI on his injured side revealed only a contusion, so he’ll only need to miss three to five days and won’t require a stint on the disabled list.
Ramirez, 26, got off to a rough start this season for the Cubs, surrendering a whopping eight walks in 7 2/3 innings. He allowed a more modest run total (four) while racking up an impressive 10 strikeouts, though, and has overall been an asset for the Cubs dating back to his debut with the team in 2014. Even with this season’s struggles factored in, Ramirez has posted a terrific 2.20 ERA, 10.74 K/9 and 4.27 BB/9 in 65 1/3 frames with Chicago. The team has 12 pitchers without Ramirez, however, and decided it made more sense to risk losing him than reserve catcher Tim Federowicz, according to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers (Twitter link).
He could be a useful piece if he returns to 2012 form, definitely won’t clear outright waivers.
Why are you back?!? Go away!!!!!! He wasn’t even in the majors in 2012!!!!!!!
The man. The myth. The legend.
So the only piece of the Garza deal from 2013 that has so far found sustained success at the MLB level would be Justin Grimm, and he was arguably the least intriguing piece in the deal at the time.
You, are clearly wrong. Pretty sure Kyle Hendricks was a part of that deal. And guess what, he’s a starting pitcher for the best team in baseball!!!
Kyle Hendricks was part of the Dempster trade not the Garza trade. From the Garza deal the Cubs still have Justin Grimm and CJ Edwards one of their top pitching prospects.
Hendricks came in the Dempster deal the year prior. And it always was a trade of quantity not quality. Door is still open on Edwards, he may become a useful reliever yet. And its not like Grimm is a bad player to have gotten back. And none of the likely draft picks from the 2014 draft have reached mlb Jake Stinnent was their 2nd pick that year and no star talent yet from likely draft slot to there so in hindsight they made a good deal.
Hendricks was traded along with Christian Villanueva for Ryan Dempster the year before the Garza deal
I stand corrected
Koyie Fedorowicz lives another day.
Surely Cincinnati will claim Ramirez if Atlanta doesn’t.
Why not keep him and Richards got to go so what he played for Maddon in Tampa but he as painful to watch as Harden was last year
He won’t get through waivers. The Marlins absolutely need to work out a deal with the Cubs for cash or a PTBNL.
I love this game.
Do you have three to five possibilities for a PTBNL? I’ll look into your 3-5,
And anyone else’s, for that matter. I’d prefer talent to a small amount more than the waiver fee..
I know the Cubs are reluctant to lose Federowicz because their 2 catchers are old and Comtreras “isn’t ready”. He’s ready enough for me to designate Federowicz and not a good, relatively young arm.
They won’t bring him up because they want him to get regular playing time. Until Montero is gone, he won’t be up playing every day
He was successful throwing 94-96 pre injury, that’s down to 90-92 so he is trying to rely on his slider hence the walks. Really hard to succeed with a straight fastball as a righty when it’s only 90-92