The Angels have outrighted right-hander J.C. Ramirez off their 40-man roster and down to Triple-A, the team announced. As Jeff Fletcher of the Southern California News Group notes, Ramirez has the option of rejecting the outright assignment in order to instead become a free agent. Left-hander Adalberto Mejia has also been activated off the team’s restricted list.
After undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2018, Ramirez made his return to the Major League mound on July 31, and the righty has a 4.50 ERA over eight innings of relief work. Of particular note was Ramirez’s 91mph average fastball velocity, a notable step down from his 95.5mph average over the course of his career, though it isn’t unusual for pitchers to gradually build up velocity after any long absence (especially in the aftermath of a major arm procedure).
The 30-year-old has already logged 41 1/3 minor league innings this season as part of his rehab work, and he’ll now head back to Triple-A unless he chooses to become a free agent. He could decide to simply remain in a familiar organization while he gets back to full health, unless Ramirez feels he’s ready for MLB action and opts to seek out a chance on another club’s 25-man roster. As evidenced by the outright, Ramirez is out of options, meaning that a new team would either have to keep him on their active roster or else expose him to waivers again in order to outright him to the minor leagues.
Was doing well as a reliever before they pushed his limits by putting him in the rotation. I’d like to keep him around and have him as a long relief option in 2020, assuming his stuff comes back.
Was it because his ERA was below 5?
As a die hard Angels fan I feel horrible laughing at your comment, but that was a good one!
Had to read this comment again and that’s pretty damn funny
He could come back to the Phillies become and star and finally give something back for the Cliff Lee trade.
euh no. this guy was rightfully let go the first time and that should stay the case.
don’t like this…please stick around jc.
Go Angels