The Dodgers announced this afternoon that they’ve selected the contract of left-hander Nick Ramirez. Lefty Justin Wrobleski was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move, and right-hander Michael Petersen was designated for assignment to make room for Ramirez on the 40-man roster.
Ramirez, 35, was acquired by the Dodgers in a trade with the Yankees back in April after the southpaw failed to make the Opening Day roster in the Bronx. A fourth-round pick by the Brewers back in 2011, Ramirez didn’t make his big league debut until 2019 as a member of the Tigers. He posted middling results in relief across three seasons with Detroit and San Diego from 2019-21, with a 4.55 ERA (101 ERA+) and 4.60 FIP in 110 2/3 innings of work while striking out 20.4% of opponents.
The lefty signed with the Mariners on a minor league deal headed into the 2022 season and posted impressive results at the Triple-A level, with a 2.93 ERA and a 23.7% strikeout rate in 55 1/3 frames, but was unable to crack the club’s big league roster. That led him to sign with the Yankees on a fresh minors pact for the 2023 season, and he enjoyed the best season of his career in the Bronx as he posted a fantastic 2.66 ERA and 2.94 FIP in 40 2/3 frames after being selected to the Cubs roster in late April, after which point he was shuttled between the majors and minors on a semi-frequent basis.
Unfortunately, Ramirez has not been able to replicate that same success with the Dodgers. He’s pitched 11 1/3 innings in the majors this year but has struggled to a 6.35 ERA with a 4.33 FIP and just four strikeouts. That lackluster production has carried over to his performance at Triple-A Oklahoma City, for whom he’s pitched to a 4.65 ERA in 31 innings of work this year with a lackluster 19.2% strikeout rate. The Dodgers are surely hoping he can improve upon that performance in his latest stint with the club, though he’s buried on the relief depth chart by both Alex Vesia and Anthony Banda in terms of left-handed options, likely leaving him to be used in exclusively low-leverage situations while with the club.
Ramirez takes the spot of Petersen on the 40-man roster. The righty got his first taste of big league action back in June when he was selected to the roster in the aftermath of Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s placement on the injured list due to a rotator cuff strain. The right-hander has served as an up-and-down bullpen arm for the Dodgers in the months since then, though his results have left much to be desired. In 14 innings of work across 11 appearances, Petersen has struggled to a 6.43 ERA with a 6.32 FIP in the majors, though he’s been nothing short of dominant at Triple-A with a sparkling 1.64 ERA and a 35.2% strikeout rate in 33 frames. If Petersen goes unclaimed on waivers, the Dodgers will have the opportunity to outright the right-hander to Triple-A where he can act as non-roster depth for the club down the stretch.
Nick Deeds on Nick Ramirez, “Justin” the Nick of time.
Peterson was kinda neat
Good luck to him
Had a fastidious locker. Neatest thing about him.
Mojo
But here we are talking about him and not about you, troll
Lighten up DB. Are you drunk? Or get a sense of humor.
Mojo
Nah
Just tired of stupid trolls insulting people who are infinitely more successful than they will ever be at anything
Wow. You ought to ask Mickey Solis for his therapist contact. No one insulted you. Your paranoia is running away with you. I didn’t troll you. But I’d be happy to start if you like. Ramirez will be gone as soon as the next IL activation. Or don’t you actually follow the Dodgers?
Mojo
It’s almost like you’re not paying attention – or, your just trolling.
I didn’t say anything about insulting me. I referred to insulting the players.
I didn’t say anything about Ramirez. I said Peterson was interesting – you trolled in by saying he wasn’t interesting.
Point taken re Peterson. In any case you take my comments as you prefer. You might want to distinguish between a light hearted response and trolling. No malice was aimed toward you by me. That’s all n your head. This dialogue has gone far enough. I’ll close by apologizing for any perceived slight or insult or unprovoked negativity by me. Rage on if you must.
Mojo
Fair enough
Again, it’s not about insulting me. If I read your comment too harshly, then I rescind my comments.
Hopefully we see Henriquez soon.
Yep I thought the only reason for not bringing Henriquez up was a 40 man roster issue, but that obviously isn’t the issue. I got a chance to see him pitch in Vegas, and he seemed unhittable throwing 103 on the gun. Not sure how accurate minor league guns are and especially minor league stadium guns, but it seemed like electric stuff.
Looks like Brusdar takes Ramirez’ spot today. Seems as if Nick was insurance for Sunday’s game.
Yamamoto’s start this week will be an almost-bullpen game to follow the one Saturday. Just have to piece it together to the off day.
True, but Nick Ramirez is strictly mop-up material. If we see him in a close game, then something has gone terribly wrong.
Banda is slipping a bit lately. hoping another guy can step up.
Anyone who looked at his career work wasn’t expecting his dominance to continue over an extended number of appearances.