MLB Trade Rumors 2015: Atlanta Adds Bullpen Depth with Jose Ramirez Trade
The Atlanta Braves recently announced that they have acquired Jose Ramirez in a trade with the Seattle Mariners, but what the Mariners get in return is still being speculated, with the statement saying from both teams that it can either be a player to be identified later on or perhaps some cash considerations.
The move to unload Ramirez is a clear manifestation that new general manager Jerry Dipoto isn't going with the direction mapped out by former GM Jack Zduriencik. It was Zduriencik who got both Ramirez and Dustin Ackley, another player the Mariners traded to the Yankees.
With Ramirez's addition to the club, Atlanta now has a very interesting bunch of bullpen guys as they head to training in preparation for the new season. Perhaps the best thing about the deal is that it wasn't costly and barely hurts the Braves' payroll.
The 25-year-old Ramirez is a great prospect for any team right now and the acquisition by the Braves looks to be a win-win situation for both parties. Prior to the trade, the reliever actually was out of minor league opportunities, but will have to break camp with the team out of Spring Training to take a spot, or else he'll find himself in danger of outright waivers.
What's interesting about Ramirez is that he actually upped his strikeout rate in the minors the moment he was related to the bullpen after playing as a starter. Although he did strike out 110 batters in a little over 106 innings in the Triple-A Level, he also allowed 61 walks, showing that he still needs a lot of improvement on his end.
The right-hander then went 1-0 in 4 and 2/3 innings, producing an ERA of 11.57 during his five appearances for the Mariners after getting recalled from his Tacoma club last September. In nine games with Tacoma, he had a 9.00 ERA in more than 13 innings for nine relief appearances.
