First baseman/outfielder Harold Ramírez has signed with the Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos of the Mexican League, reports Daniel Álvarez-Montes of El Extrabase. There’s a $0 buyout for MLB affiliates.
Ramírez, 30, appeared in the past six major league baseball seasons with a unique profile. He would rarely walk, strikeout or hit home runs. As a player who put the ball in play almost as much as any other, his production was among the most susceptible to variations in batted ball luck.
Over the 2019 to 2021 seasons, he suited up for the Guardians and Marlins, getting 818 plate appearances in that time. His .315 batting average on balls in play was actually a bit above league average, which is usually in the .290-.300 range. But thanks to a walk rate of just 4% and only 18 home runs in that time, his .271/.308/.405 batting line led to a 92 wRC+, indicating he had been 8% below par overall.
His fortune turned with the Rays in the next two seasons. Over the 2022 and 2023 campaigns, he took 869 trips to the plate with Tampa. His 4.7% walk rate was still quite low and he hit another 18 home runs but his BABIP spiked to .354 in that time. That helped him hit .306/.348/.432 for a 122 wRC+.
Regression came in 2024. His BABIP dropped to .320 and he only walked 2% of the time, with just two homers in 246 plate appearances. That included a brief stint with the Nationals after the Rays released him. After the Nats also released him, he finished the year on a minor league deal with Atlanta, hitting .231/.278/.275 in 97 Triple-A plate appearances.
Ramirez has played first base and the outfield in his career but isn’t considered a strong defender, so his offensive drop-off last year really put a dent in his value. By taking a job in Mexico, he’s surely hoping to carve out some regular playing time and show that he can still swing it. If he looks to be in good form, the no-cost buyout could lead some club to pick him up.
I sometimes also feel like I am at least 8% below par. I get it. Good luck Harold.
You are probably more on par than you give yourself credit for.
I think I am probably running at least 50% below par. I just, JUST, realized that there are Mexican League teams in the United States. I always put the ass into assumed and thought they were only in Mexico. 🙂
There is MUCH more to baseball then “How many homeruns can you hit?”
Yes, it’s how many runs can you produce? Harold is below average at that.
Damn I feel like many teams like the mariners or padres or pirates could use this guy
600 ops is not good but he isn’t that old yet and was good for the 2 seasons before
Tecos stocking up!
Allright!
Be sure to eat at La Unica
Harold. Good stuff!
I read Harold Reynolds, for some reason
I mean, he’s 64 and hasn’t seen any game action in almost 30 years but he still might be able to swipe a bag or two
Wow, a non three true outcomes hitter.. I read that Pete Rose is the best. I imagine with low BB percentage, Lou Brock and Ichiro are up there too.
Lou Brock had nine 100-strikeout seasons during 11 years. In the other two seasons, he struck out 99 and 93 times. When he retired after the 1979 season, his 1.730 strikeouts were second to Willie Stargell’s 1,829 on the all-time list.
You can’t steal first
Writing off Pete Rose’s whole career as batted ball luck feels apt for a gambler.
Pirates should have picked him up as opposed to Pham.
Pham passes the eye test when you see him play. Still a decent player. Average with the bat and definitely a better fielder than Harold.
Wish him well, Harold had a nice little run in TB. Just dont ask him to play defense
In previous eras his lack of K’s would be appreciated more.
However, in any era a 1B needs to have more pop.
$0 buyout? That’s not really a “buyout” then…
He’s most similar to Ross Gload according to Baseball Reference.
Harold was a great Ghostbuster
As a Rays fan, he is an awesome guy! Rays did him dirty but I also know he was running out of luck in the majors. I wish him nothing but luck and hope he kills it in the Mexican League! Go Harold!
Nats fans loved the guy, fantastic human being unfortunately not a great major leagues. I wish him the best.