The Yankees have designated lefty Nick Ramirez for assignment, per a team announcement. His spot on the 40-man roster will go to fellow lefty Tanner Tully, whose contract is being selected from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Manager Aaron Boone announced not long ago that Tully would be selected but didn’t divulge a corresponding move.
It’s a somewhat surprising DFA, given Ramirez’s solid performance in 2023 and strong spring showing. The 34-year-old logged 40 2/3 innings out of Boone’s bullpen last year and recorded a 2.66 ERA. His 16.3% strikeout rate was well shy of the league average, but Ramirez’s 5.2% walk rate was outstanding and his 47.4% grounder rate was sharp as well. This spring, he pitched 10 1/3 innings and allowed five runs on nine hits and a walk with nine strikeouts and a huge 62% ground-ball rate.
Ramirez didn’t make the Opening Day roster with the Yankees, however, and it seems that for the time being anyhow, they prefer to turn to Tully to add some length in the bullpen rather than the more straightforward move to recall Ramirez. In doing so, they’ll now have a week to trade Ramirez, attempt to pass him through outright waivers or release him. He’s been outrighted previously in his career, so he’d be able to reject an outright assignment even if he clears waivers.
In parts of four big league seasons between the Tigers, Padres and Yankees, Ramirez has tallied 151 1/3 innings with a 4.04 ERA and fielding-independent marks that more or less support that level of performance (4.15 FIP, 4.33 SIERA). He doesn’t throw hard, sitting 90-91 with his fastball, and his 19.3% strikeout rate is below par. But Ramirez has solid control and ground-ball tendencies, just as he showed in 2023, and has virtually no platoon split. Ramirez is in his final minor league option year and has four years of club control remaining.
I agree with the author. Pretty shocking to see him get the axe, as he ate some innings for the team last year. Tanner Tully is not likely to be on the team for any appreciable period of time.
They’ll trade him.
Yeah you’re right. I was amazed at what Florial got us back. Not sure Ramirez will fetch a viable depth arm but something is better than nothing.
The Yankees manufacture these bullpen arms as well as any team. Teams will want Ramirez, but will he be as good away from Matt Blake and the Yankees?
Yes
Like imagine thinking he’d be worse going to the Rays or Orioles lol.
To try to understand Cashman thinking is….trying.
Stroman is realizing right now why he’s the only pitcher to sign with the NYY he could be pitching a shutout but errors made it 3-1.
Lol
Pitched a quality start and the score is 4-3 Yanks.
He’s about to get the win
Saved by Oswaldo! Dude is raking!! If DJ doesn’t have a fractured foot, and is in the line up at 3rd and Oswaldo is down in AAA the Yankees likely lose those 3 games. Right now if the NYY can get AJ to remember how to hit that’d be great!
@1.78iq That’s alot of “what if’s”…. I’m not a Yankees fan by any means, that doesn’t change the reality that they re 4-0.
Speaking of “what if’s”; what if you did not like you re own comments. It would reflect the reality that nobody puts any stock into the asinine things you type….
What do Yankees fans think of Oswald Peraza assuming he recovers from the recent injury?
Asking for a friend.
It’s a subscapularis muscle strain. No tendon damage thankfully. He’ll be fine with rest. I think he’ll replace Gleyber but needs reps in AAA.
Agree I think he’s a player in MLB. He’s a great SS but looks like that ship has sailed.
nick ramirez, you are now a boston red sox
He throws 91 and is nearly 35yo,and has a low probability of making the team regret DFAing him.
Age is a bit irrelevant when considering pre-FA. If he can be good for the next few years, who cares about his age.
Guy’s FRA was 4.33 in 2023 and didn’t fair well in ST. No surprise that he was headed to the minors. Buh Bye!
FRA? Is that a New York stat for disliked pitchers?
…Friggin’ Runs Allowed?
Forecasted Run Average.
Ah, makes sense. Looked like a typo
Kinda feels like we need to have directories handed out to explain the 15 dozen new metrics each year.
I think it’s a new metric only in Old York’s version of reality. I thought I read baseball journalism pretty widely and I have never seen FRA anywhere else, except in Old York posts. In fact, I think he’s trying to pull one over on us.
It’s a new metric created by Dan Richards of Pitchers List.
Okay, thanks for the info, and this exonerates Old York.
PBTNL to Pirates in the Brubaker trade?
We probably won’t know until the Pirates select a guy off a list by their deadline.
Man, I know it’s early, but Yankee fans should have a warm feeling in their stomach. (Not necessarily alcohol related). Loved Stroman’s start…and Cabrera’s first 3 games have been obnoxious. (Was there any sign of that in Florida?)
Supposedly Cabrera has been working with Soto on his swing. Cabrera has been very open about how much he looks up to Soto. I don’t know if he’s really turned a corner or if it’s just a hot streak but it’s fun to watch.