SEPT. 29: Surgery will reveal the full extent of Ramos’ knee injury, but it’s possible there are also some tears in his meniscus, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
SEPT. 27: Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos has received the devastating news that he has again torn his right ACL, manager Dusty Baker told reporters (via CSN Mid-Atlantic, on Twitter). Ramos previously suffered that injury — which isn’t exactly typical for a catcher — back in 2012.
With just a week left in the regular season, and the division already locked up, the Nationals now face a void at the catching position entering the postseason. Ramos’s huge season — a .307/.354/.496 slash with 22 home runs over 523 plate appearances — was among the factors that helped drive the Nats’ success this year after both player and team disappointed in 2015.
Of course, the injury also casts a massive shadow over Ramos’s upcoming free agency. It had seemed all but certain that he’d receive and decline a qualifying offer, then enter the market in search of four or five years at over $10MM per season. Instead, in all likelihood, he’ll now likely be looking for an entirely different sort of contract.
Washington had reportedly just taken a crack at extending Ramos, though the team’s reported offer (something a bit north of three years and $30MM) didn’t seem all that likely to result in a deal. As I noted in that post, Ramos had already taken on basically all of the risk of performance and injury decline, reducing his incentive to sell his future seasons at a discount. But the relatively meager odds didn’t prevent the catastrophic injury, which is all the more concerning given that Ramos has already had that ligament replaced.
The Nats will go with Jose Lobaton and Pedro Severino for now, and will simply have to make do with that pair for the playoffs. It’s now certain that the organization will need to replace Ramos after the season — there would seem to be little chance that he’ll be ready for the start of 2017 — though it could also sign a gap-filler and explore some kind of multi-year arrangement to keep him around for the future.
Just how things will play out remains unknown, with Ramos’s anticipated timeline still yet to be determined. The repeat nature of the surgery likely increases the uncertainty surrounding his recovery, and the situation as a whole only adds to concerns about how the large-bodied receiver would age, particularly with the litany of leg injuries he has suffered.
On the positive side, “the Buffalo” — as he is affectionately and appropriately known — just turned 29 in early August, so he’s still rather youthful. He has already proved capable of working back from an ACL tear, and has held up to an immense amount of abuse before this hard-luck injury, appearing in 259 games since the start of 2015.
All said, it’s extremely disappointing to see such misfortune for a universally respected player who has already been through so much. Hope remains that he’ll be able to return to being a productive big league receiver, but it won’t be in 2016.
The injury also creates some added opportunity for other catchers on the free agent market, such as Matt Wieters and Jason Castro, who may see their demand increase. And it could shift the trade winds, potentially enhancing the Yankees’ bargaining position with veteran Brian McCann and adding to the appeal of struggling Padres receiver Derek Norris.
as a beleaguered mets fan, i have 0 sympathy for the Nats. However, I do feel bad for Ramos. this KILLLLLLS his FA stock.
Tough luck. Not that we stood a chance before against Kershaw and Dodgers, this pretty much books Dodgers for NLCS against whoever can upset Cubs or not.
Hope he recovers fast.
Not sure I can express the same degree of confidence in a Dodgers triumph but for sure this is a terrible development for the Nats at just about the worst possible moment.
We are without Strasburg and Ramos. Murphy is injured. Harper may not be 100%. Kershaw has won 9 out of 10 times against us, going back to 2009.
The only thing I am barely hanging onto is the fact that Kershaw has struggled in past postseason campaigns and your team does not do well against lefties and we have one in Gio Gonzalez. Odds are stacked against us.
Lots of factors at work here. Kershaw is fighting back from a two-month layoff. He’s looked better with each successive start, but still not 100%, and has only one more tuneup coming before the postseason. Home field advantage could also matter a lot, given that the Dodgers are basically breakeven on the road but pretty tough to beat at home.
I am familiar with Dodgers’ home and away splits, Kershaw’s home and away splits, and Dodgers’ record against lefties. That’s pretty much what I do these days, look for advantages that Nationals could use in the upcoming series. However, with injuries to key players and under-performance by others, it is tough to see Nationals go past Dodgers.
Who is this “we” you are talking about. Your attitude certainly is not the one the team or good Nats fans are taking.
I am a bad Nationals fan because I have a different opinion than you? Good to know.
Vogt… Strike a deal with A’s Billy Bean and team like right now… Won’t come cheap though…
I don’t think they can keep him for postseason so there is no point in getting him.
So they can have him for 5 games?
That is a weird concept he’s a service catcher with control left. I don’t think he’s passed through waivers and There is no chance he would. He’d get blocked by every team with a lesser record. You don’t think the Dodgers wouldn’t put a claim in. Just play the best defensive catcher Severino. It obviously hurts the offense but they have problems beyond that hoping Harper and Murphy are healthy.
Kaboom
Almost. It’s actually Kieboom, who has been called up to the majors for the final week of the season
I still say the braves should go after him this offseason.
No can do- the powers that be in Baltimore have already decided you’re getting a wildly overpriced Matt Wieters for Christmas
Nats are in a beep of trouble
Rizzo must go get Kurt Suzuki for the Post Season
Can’t. Players must be on the 40 man roster before Sept 1 to be postseason eligible.
That really blows. Hate to see anyone get such an injury, but right before the postseason? Bummed out doesn’t begin to festive how he’s probably feeling.
Festive is a really weird autocorrect away from describe.
Lol I found this hilarious
Lmao
Bad all around, for Ramos and the Nats. Nats lose him for postseason and past that, now have questions about offering him the QA after the season. Do the Nats lose him for nothing now due to this injury? Do the do a one year deal? Will suck to see him leave under this circumstance, as a fan of him (wanting him to stay and get paid) and of the team (wanting them to get a least a draft pick)
Ramos seemingly loses a ton of money as well. Perhaps the team and him do agree to something like the 3 year $30 million deal.
Nats have too many injuries to get to through the playoffs. Tough deal for Ramos, though he still will do well in free agency. I can see the Nats trading for McCann this winter to replace Ramos.
Mccann wouldblock the ever living sh– out of that trade. Also I strongly believe the Braves make a strong push for him this winter.
With Dusty, they busty!
Watch lobaton pull an ishakawa
If Ramos was to get a deal in the offseason, it is probably a backloaded and nonguaranteed two-year deal that is contingent on his return date and his health. Team will likely stash for depth, but find it hard for him to get more than $7M this coming offseason. Still the youngest catcher on the free agent market at 29 years old, so it is possible that a team that can use him for the depth can try to use him at first base or designated hitter until he is back in shape for catcher. First base market is pretty deep, however, so we will see how teams want to delegate their money this winter. Ramos has not played first in the MLB, and hasn’t in a game since 2008, but teams will always look at options.
In a side note, you have to think that Matt Wieters will definitely search the market now will full guarantee that his is the best catcher on the market.
Poor Wilson. It all started with his kidnapping in Venezuela and he’s been battling injuries ever since. He can’t seem to string two seasons together. So tough for the Nationals. Dusty will have to reach way down into his bag of tricks for the playoffs.