10:08pm: The Marlins have announced the trade.
10:02pm: The Mets are sending minor league right-hander Merandy Gonzalez and minor league outfielder Ricardo Cespedes to the Marlins to complete the trade, reports Joel Sherman of the New York Post (on Twitter).
9:48pm: In a surprising development, the Mets have struck a deal to acquire closer AJ Ramos from the Marlins, reports MLB Network’s Ken Rosenthal (on Twitter). The Mets are sellers at this year’s deadline, but Ramos remains under control through the 2018 season, and the Mets have reportedly been intent on contending next season, so Ramos will help in that regard.
The Mets are likely to trade closer Addison Reed, an impending free agent, between now and Monday’s non-waiver deadline, so they stood to lose their top 2018 setup option either to free agency or trade. Ramos could actually close for the Mets until Jeurys Familia is healthy enough to return, then ultimately settle into a setup role. He’s earning $6.55MM in 2017 and will be eligible for arbitration once more this winter before hitting the open market after the 2018 season.
Ramos has a solid, if unspectacular 3.63 ERA through 39 2/3 innings this season, but he’s been a generally dominant option out of the Miami ’pen dating back to 2014. Over the past four seasons, Ramos has pitched to a combined 2.61 ERA with 10.6 BB/9, 4.7 BB/9 and a 40.6 percent ground-ball rate through 238 innings. His lack of control, of course, isn’t ideal for a late-inning reliever, but Ramos has consistently been able to strikeout between 10 and 11 batters per nine frames, which has helped to mitigate many of those free passes.
With Ramos in the fold for the 2018 campaign, next year’s Mets bullpen looks like it’ll be anchored by Familia, Ramos, Jerry Blevins and perhaps rookie right-hander Paul Sewald, who has averaged 11 K’s per nine innings himself through 41 innings in his first taste of big league action.
Gonzalez and Cespedes rank ninth and 22nd, respectively, on the Mets’ midseason top 30 prospects list over at MLB.com. Through a combined 106 innings between two Class-A levels, the 21-year-old Gonzalez has worked to a 1.78 ERA with 7.6 K/9, 1.8 BB/9 and a 41 percent ground-ball rate. MLB.com’s Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo write that his fastball sits around 93 mph but can reach 96-97 mph when needed, and the young righty also has an above-average curveball with an improving changeup. Gonzalez is listed at 6’0″ and 216 pounds, so he’s a bit short for a starter, though that frame is hardly any sort of clear indicator that he’s better suited for a relief role.
The 19-year-old Cespedes has been facing much older competition across short-season Class-A and full-season Class-A ball this year, but he hasn’t fared well at the plate against his more experienced opponents. Through 108 plate appearances — he’s spent a fair bit of time on the minor league DL — Cespedes has batted .255/.283/.294. Ugly numbers aside, Cespedes was inked for a fairly sizable $725K bonus out of the Dominican Republic as a 16-year-old and draws praise from Callis and Mayo for his yet untapped tools.
MLB.com’s report notes that while he’ll need a lot to go right to reach his ceiling, the upside for Cespedes is a five-tool right fielder. He’s playing center field right now but has the arm for right along with bat speed, occasional pop and at least average speed. Cespedes will join fellow 19-year-old Brayan Hernandez, acquired in the Marlins’ David Phelps trade with Seattle, as a toolsy outfielder with plenty of upside that could be several years from the big leagues but gives the team plenty to dream on as he develops.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Wowwww
ded
Two in division trades in 40 minutes.
Yes, here’s hoping that longtime in-division trade taboo has been broken.
For all MLB
But it exists for a reason.
It’s a very good idea. If your GM thinks the other GM will scalp him.
If he thinks he’s winning the deal, roll it.
I agree, EndinStealth… but from a purely fan perspective I’ve enjoyed watching more GMs roll the dice on intra-division trades lately.
Hmmm is he a keeper or part of a larger deal? Sandy???
Keeper
Good replacement for reed. Gotta suck for Ramos this year though. He probably expected to go to a contender and now he’s still in the same boat.
Probobly happier then being on the marlins. Lol
This is interesting. I’m curious about what they gave up and whether they actually want to keep him.
The Mets gave up 2 unranked prospects. The Mets won that deal
They weren’t unbanked. Gonzalez was Mets No. 9 prospect and Cespedes was Mets No. 22 prospect. Still a steal for Muts
Did not expect that.
Interesting
Wtf???? Nobody wanted him more than the mets????
This makes no sense, unless the Mets flip him to another team
it makes perfect sense, he’s under contract for next season, and the mets have said that they want to contend in 2018, plus, he’s rather affordable
And, a side benefit, he takes another closer off the market, making Reed more valuable.
Actually makes great sense. Reed is gone by Monday and after next season Mets begin to lose parts….Harvey etc. They are going to make a run for it in 2018 barring major injury problems like this year.
The only run they are going to make in 2018 is a run for your wallet. Keep believing is like bending over to pick up pennies while dollar bills and your wallet fall out.
It makes a ton of sense. There is a major buyer’s market right now. Relievers in the offseason will prolly be much more expensive as both FA and trades. Getting a solid guy for next year’s BP now is a worthwhile gamble.
Ummm ok… sure why not…
They are in no position to trade for a closer. Addison Reed is not closer material. He’s terrible. The white Sox would have kept him if he was Any good.
Your definition of terrible sucks
If he’s terrible I would love to see what makes a good closer to you.
Wade Davis, kenley Jansen.
Have you sen his stats….he’s been a top 10 closer since going to the Mets 2.5yrs ago, last I checked he had a 2.01ERA over that time period. RP can be a flash in the pan, but he’s working on 3 years of being a shutdown arm.
I’ve seen buzz that Gavin Cecchini got pulled from the game in Vegas? I could see him being moved, Rivera is clearly favored by the FO at this point.
I have a feeling this might be part of a bigger deal.
Mets going all in? Lol
Show me a better prospect than Brayan Hernandez and I’m fine with this. Not sure at this point that it makes sense for either team.
Surprising. I wonder if he was acquired to be packaged forward in a following trade…
Tazawa the closer now?
This caught me out of no where
Amaze-balls. Wholly crappolla!!! Where do the Mets get off actually doing something smart. What did they give up? Anyone know?
Merandy Gonzalez…future ace of the Miami Marlins -_- saw this guy pitch 3 times in st Lucie and Columbia…he’s for real…they just got there replacement for Jose Fernandez
I agree he’s really good, a lot of potential hopefully he pitches well when he gets the call up down the road
No way is he going to be Jose Fernandez. Seriously?
No one will ever replace jose Fernandez.
Cespedes!
So what did the Mets give up??
Two Single-A prospects. Both top-30 according to MLB.com, neither one at the top of the list. Not a bad haul for Miami from a depth perspective, and considering Ramos’s control status and underwhelming performance this year.
Agreed. Good upside for both teams. The Markins get two lottery tickets that are at least 2-3yr away and the Mets get a 7th inning guy w. closer experience to pitch in 2018.
Well, getting rid of the other Cespedes will solve the confusion caused when people saw him at spring training and thought it was Yoennes! I saw there in March and someone we ran into from our home town had sent a picture of the wrong Cespedes to a relative (who didn’t want to embarrass the person by telling them that it was the wrong person, which was obvious from the uniform number).
Ricardo’s mistake may have been not promoting himself with an awesome show reel like the one Yoenis and his reps used to earn him that first contract with OAK.
One less reliever out there which drives up the price of Reed or they’ll trade both of them at a premium???
Pure spitball: Can Reed + Ramos land a high-end prospect return?
no, they wouldn’t, and they won’t trade Ramos they plan on keeping him for next season when they plan to contend
Makes sense. That’s how we learn-by askin’.
Dumb move by the Mets. Makes zero sense for them. They should be selling.
How is it dumb, they know have a setup man for next year if their in contention and if not they can flip em at the deadline next year. All the trading this year is so we can reload for next year like the Yankees did, it’s not to load up on as many prospects as possible that are in Single A with high upside even tho you’d like some of those guys, we still need players for next year when we have hopefully the full starting rotation back up, Amed and Smith manning 1st and SS, Conforto and Yoenis on the OF and a strong bullpen pair with some wise FA signings and this team could easily compete next year.
Agreed. Nice points and accurate
*now
It actually does make some sort of sense for the Mets. They keep talking about wanting to contend next year, and if their starting rotation can stay healthy (a HUGE if with them as we’ve seen), there’s no reason to think they couldn’t contend for a playoff spot next year. The Mets probably made this move, knowing they’re about to trade Reed (who is a free agent at the end of this season).
yes they got a solid reliever on a decent contract to compete next year…but they traded away a great young pitcher who could contribute in a year or two…we need starters as I’m sure Everyone who watches knows.
The pitcher they traded is almost 22 and highest he got is A+ he’s not gonna be up for a couple years at the earliest, and the mets traded for Smith I believe who is a hard throwing relief pitcher that actually can help out next year, his numbers in the minors are just as good at the guy we traded at a higher level.
Numbers…first of the guy we got is a reliever…merandy is a startr who is 12-2 with a 1.7 era…i saw him pitch 3 times in columbia and st lucie hes legit…he will replace jose fernandez within a year or two
His stuff’s not that good, all this stuff is against RK and A competition, plus people said Montero was going to be a stud and this highly rated prospect not every single pitcher with good stuff makes its at the next level is what I’m saying, his frame is a little small to stay a reliable starter for his career my bet is he’ll be a releiver if he does make it and stick at the pros.
The Mets still have some nice arms in their farm and some good pieces in place on the MLB team, plus who knows what we get in a trade coming up pair that with future draft picks/FA and just cause this kid got good stuff and solid numbers doesn’t mean he’s gonna be guaranteed a spot, we don’t need him as badly as you think we need a starter not that he would even be up in the next 2 years prob 3 in my guess
he also has already spent 5 years in the minors. He’ll likely be a minor league free agent before he reaches the bigs
Just remember when he gets called up within the year and starts mowing down Mets hitters….I saw this kid pitch he was out of his league
have you played hardball beyond middle school?
Someone who has only logged 31 innings at A+ is not getting called up next year no matter how old he is. If you read his scouting report and look up on him you see he’s got a lot of stuff to work on like not tipping his pitches, he can get away with it in the lower minors but not uppers and majors, also his breaking ball is not MLB worthy by a long shot he needs a couple years to develop and then he has to perform at he majors for 2 years at the least for him to be more valuable then Ramos, I’d be more upset with giving up Cespedes he’s young but he could be a stud in a couple years of he fills out and improves on his game he could be a 5 tool player
this trade makes no sense at all, the marlins could of gotten a lot more for ramos
From who? Every team knew he was available. What is this better offer you speak of?
Well this is interesting
I agree with a lot of people here tonight. The Marlins traded him cheap, Mets are priming for next year. So they are not “sellers” or “buyers”…..they are “anticipating” 2018…….a new classification.
A classification that makes so much sense. Too bad most people don’t seem to understand it.
I don’t think I’d call someone that is 6′ tall and 216 pounds slight… He may be a little short for a starter, but 216 at that height is pretty beefy…
Ha. That is very fair. I just changed it to “short.” Not the best choice of adjective there.
I don’t think I would call someone 6′ “short”
Lol why?
The return for Phelps bothers me more than this, as a Marlins fan. Hopefully the arm stays a starter, although he’s pretty far away, in A ball. If not, he’s another reliever to add to the several others the Marlins have in their system. Hopefully, they can move a couple of more relievers, Dee Gordon, and at least Straily before the deadline, and hope to move Volquez in August, if he comes back healthy, as well as the other injured guys. I dont think they’ll trade Ozuna, even though I would
A really solid late inning reliever can bet you the #9 and #22 ranked prospects from a team but Dodger fans say Darvish isn’t worth giving the number 1 OR 2 prospect…dumb
If they don’t get a great offer for Reed it would be nice to lock him up with an extension. Add one more arm in the offseason so we have a decent bullpen next year
That would be a really deep bullpen. I hope they try to resign Reed too. But it’s a nice contingency plan in case he’s asking for some crazy contract
Mets are getting ready for next season
The only thing worse than this trade is the fact mets fans believe they are contenders next year and this is a meaningless trade now and next season.
“Mets have reportedly been intent on contending next season.”
Hahahahahahaha. They not only play baseball….their comedians as well.
This is brilliant in two ways, 1) it allows the Mets to have a solid arm next year to pair with familia and Blevins, taking reeds spot from this year. 2) it takes a bigger relief pitcher off the market, further upping reeds potential value and trade return. Smart!