Twins Claim RHP Neil Ramirez

[Seth Stohs]

Per Twins PR man Dustin Morse via Twitter:

 

 

He's spent time with the Cubs in 2014-2016... was recently claimed by the Brewers and pitched just a couple of games with them before being DFAd again.

 

He's 27.

[Seth Stohs]

From the Twins PR Release:

 

Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN – The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have claimed right-handed pitcher Neil Ramirez off outright waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers.

 

Ramirez, 27, appeared in 10 games for the Brewers and Chicago Cubs this season, posting a 5.79 ERA (9.1 IP, 6 ER), with eight walks and 13 strikeouts.  The Virginia native has appeared in 79 career games, going 4-3, 2.42 ERA (67.0 IP, 18 ER) with 31 walks and 81 strikeouts.

 

Ramirez, who is expected to join the team tomorrow night in Anaheim, will wear uniform number 50.  The Twins will make a corresponding move to make room on the 25-man roster prior to their series with the Angels.  Additionally, the Twins will transfer Phil Hughes to the 60-day disabled list.

[Danchat]

Ramirez has some pretty nice numbers with the Cubs in 2014 and 2015. In that stretch, he has a 1.87 ERA with a 2.75 FIP along with 10.6 K/9 compared to 3.6 BB/9. 

 

He's still pretty young and he could definitely become a key fixture in the bullpen if he can look more like his 14-15 self. I'd say this is a good move.

 

I'm not sure who will be going down in his place... I think it's too early to ship Chargois back to AAA, so maybe they send Pressly down for a little bit. Other options would be Rogers and Boshers, but they've pitched very well so far.

[Kwak]

Why do I wonder that if a guy who has been released multiple times, that the Twins "are lucky he fell to them?"

[jud6312]

http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/22/2294cec4d3ad25dc38a54235d6083681dddd68dc6edc1478f14bd5304db95acd.jpg

[Winston Smith]

Building the staff off the waiver wire is how championships are won.

[jorgenswest]

Listening to Ryan this morning, I think it will be Chargois. He implied that he wanted him to have more innings at AAA but didn't have other options. They have another option now.

 

Maybe Jepsen will come up with an injury by tomorrow.

[jud6312]

 

Building the staff off the waiver wire is how championships are won.

Leave no dumpster unturned.

[DaveW]

Never seen this guy pitch, but his numbers aren't bad, 10+ k/9, 2.42 career ERA. His HR rate prior to this year was 0.75.

I think he could be a nice fit, and these are the type of guys I like us picking up on the waiver wire.

[Twinfan & Dad]

Reminds me of the movie Groundhog Day. New day same sh*t.

[jud6312]

 

Reminds me of the movie Groundhog Day. New day same sh*t.

Any idea what Ned Ryerson's career FIP is?

[DaveW]

 

Any idea what Ned Ryerson's career FIP is?

Probably higher than Ramirez and his reasonable 3.35 FIP?

[Puckett34]

http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/be/bea6f4266866683162570cd81e6f603ab756278b64a6d3cc35d6b72799654cbf.jpg

[Twinfan & Dad]

How can a GM be so wrong about a roster entering a season? Yes there have been injuries but to trust TR at this point in regards to his evaluation of talent is hopeless. Trust is like an eraser. It gets smaller and smaller with every mistake. These moves are an act of desperation.

[Twinfan & Dad]

Needlenose Ned or Ned the head! I did the whistling belly button trick at the high school talent show.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I like the claim. Probably time to send Jepsen packing, there is virtually zero chance that he can restore enough value over the next two months to bring anything worthwhile back in trade. Might as well reallocate his innings.

[Thrylos]

27 years old.  92-94 mph FB without good command, 85-87 mph above average slider borderlining on plus, average mid-high 70s curve.  Command and control have been a pretty large issue.  If he can command his FB to set up his SL, he can be serviceable.

[sftwinsfan]

I don't really have an issue with it with the guys K numbers and some past success/age.  The thing I do have a problem with is if they send Chargois down after one bad outing.  If he goes out and does that 3 times out of 4 and looks completely overmatched then fine, send him down, but how are these guys supposed to succeed when they know coming up if they have one bad outing they get sent straight back down?  Now, if a guy was brought up for a spot start and was told that, I would understand that.  But this is more like, well Terry Ryan found out his housekeeper has a nephew that pitched and nobody else in the league wanted, and we're going to go with that guy.  

[adjacent]

The guy seems pretty decent. The issue that I will be glad if somebody explains to me is what are the purpose of these moves? This will not change what happened in the season. The guy is not somebody that you would say, "it can anchor the bullpen in the future". So, it is hard to understand what is the idea, what is the plan. I wish it is me not understanding what they are doing, but I am afraid it's not me.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I like the claim. Probably time to send Jepsen packing, there is virtually zero chance that he can restore enough value over the next two months to bring anything worthwhile back in trade. Might as well reallocate his innings.

thats optimistic. It'll be Chargois going down, because why develop at the bigs when your destined for the World Series?

[jorgenswest]

He is 27. BP had him the top 100 prospects in 2012. Some good results in 2014-15. Like Pressly, there is a chance he becomes a set up man on a winning team's bullpen.

[ashbury]

I didn't want to snark, honest. But I looked at his stats, and his BABIP for Milwaukee was .000. 

 

Zero?

 

How can this be, when his ERA was 10.80?

 

Well, it turns out, he did give up two hits.

 

Both were home runs. Those aren't counted as "in play".

 

So his FIP there is an even-higher 15.11.

 

This was in 1.2 IP. So I'm a little worried that this is only Small Sample Size, and he won't be able to keep such a low BABIP going forward - in which case look out, conventional wisdom says that the ERA could be headed upward.

 

Next up: a SABRmetric look at Chargois' MLB season so far.

 

Maybe I needed to put this in the Fun With Numbers thread.

 

 

[DocBauer]

Meh.

 

But then again, 27 and a past history of success, though total ML time is somewhat limited. This kind of signing I have no problem with. People rattle off the term "dumpster diving" as if every FA/waiver wire acquisition is a journeyman 30+ yo coming off a couple crappie seasons.

 

Over the years, McPhail and Ryan both picked up guys before the season and during the season...as most teams do...and have had success doing so at times. This guy is the same age as Pressly and only a year older than Tonkin. If we released either of them and they were picked up and did well for another team there would be additional outcries..over and above the ones now...for Ryan'should head.

 

If he regains what he has shown previously, especially with Jepsen stinking up the joint and Hughes down, you may have found another solid arm, again only 27, for bullpen depth.

[Rosterman]

Well, guess Sean Burnett was not a viable candidate to call up and add to the 40-man. Look for him to walk.....

[wsnydes]

I like the claim. Probably time to send Jepsen packing, there is virtually zero chance that he can restore enough value over the next two months to bring anything worthwhile back in trade. Might as well reallocate his innings.

I would have been in favor in that case. Alas, Chargios get sent down instead. The lack of prospective or direction in this organization is baffling.

[wsnydes]

The guy seems pretty decent. The issue that I will be glad if somebody explains to me is what are the purpose of these moves? This will not change what happened in the season. The guy is not somebody that you would say, "it can anchor the bullpen in the future". So, it is hard to understand what is the idea, what is the plan. I wish it is me not understanding what they are doing, but I am afraid it's not me.

The point is to block advancement of internal options that could otherwise be rewarded for their hard work and effort.

[nicksaviking]

I almost posted my interest in him when he was DFA'd. He was in the running to be the Cubs closer two years ago; he has some potential. Jepsen should be cut loose to make room,

 

Besides, a red-bearded guy named Rameriz? How could you not want that?

[Primetime82]

This team is a disaster. You can't even make up how bad this organization is run. 

[Mike Sixel]

Where are all those RP they have been drafting?

[jokin]

 

He is 27. BP had him the top 100 prospects in 2012. Some good results in 2014-15. Like Pressly, there is a chance he becomes a set up man on a winning team's bullpen.

 

Meh.

But then again, 27 and a past history of success, though total ML time is somewhat limited. This kind of signing I have no problem with. People rattle off the term "dumpster diving" as if every FA/waiver wire acquisition is a journeyman 30+ yo coming off a couple crappie seasons.

.

If he regains what he has shown previously, especially with Jepsen stinking up the joint and Hughes down, you may have found another solid arm, again only 27, for bullpen depth.

 

Ramirez has lost nearly 3 MPH off his FB velocity from 2014. And given his penchant for wildness, he's sure to add about 10-15 minutes of game length for each of his outings.

 

In light of both the Cubs and the Brewers completely giving up on him in a span of about three weeks, I'd say the chances of him somehow regaining his 2014 form seem to be slim and none.

 

Granted, it doesn't cost anything to have a look- and there is the possibility of team control of Ramirez to the year 2021 should he miraculously resurrect his career;, but I'd prefer they pursue a two-track solution- 1) keep shuttling in all of the "vaunted" internal options for extended tryouts, and 2) since they have first chance- keep on top of the waiver wire for better options (which are sure to manifest themselves over the next month or so)..