The Mariners Friday traded RHP Jose Ramirez to the Atlanta Braves for a player to be named later (PTBNL) and cash considerations. The 25-year-old Ramirez went 1-0 with an 11.57 ERA in five relief appearances with Seattle last season after being recalled from AAA Tacoma Sept. 1.
Ramirez also had a brief stint with the Mariners from July 31-Aug. 3 after being acquired from the New York Yankees at the trade deadline, but did not appear in a game. Ramirez saw action in nine contests with the Rainiers, going 1-1 with a 9.00 ERA, all in relief.
Prior to joining Seattle, Ramirez appeared in three games with the Yankees (0-0, 15.00 ERA). He also went 3-0 with 10 saves and a 2.90 ERA in 32 relief appearances over two stints with AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Ramirez was acquired by Seattle along with outfielder Ramon Flores from the Yankees in exchange for outfielder Dustin Ackley July 31. Over parts of two MLB seasons with New York (2014-15) and Seattle (2015) he is 1-2 with an 8.66 ERA in 16 relief appearances.
The move creates a vacancy on the Mariners’ 40-man roster ahead of the rule 5 draft, as well as for the signing of a free agent.
Fangraphs ranked Ramirez 23rd among Yankees farmhands heading into the 2015 season, writing that he hit 100 mph with his fastball and has, at times, displayed a 70-grade changeup. He’s shown “relief phenom-level stuff” at his best, but has struggled to stay on the field due to injuries, none of which involved his arm.
