Ramirez has appeared in 327 games over his 13-year career with six MLB teams
The Minnesota Twins signed veteran right-handed pitcher Erasmo Ramirez to a minor league contract on Saturday with an invitation to MLB camp.
Last season, Ramirez pitched 20.2 innings in 13 games for the Tampa Bay Rays and held a 4.35 ERA. Ramirez is the second bullpen arm signed this month by the Twins, as the team signed Danny Coloumbe to a one-year contract back on Feb. 4.
Ramirez compiled a 13-year MLB career pitching for six different teams, bouncing around as both a starter and a reliever. His best overall season came in 2015, where he went 11-6 in 27 starts for Tampa Bay.
The 2022 season was the last where Ramirez had a positive bWAR, as he held a career-low 2.92 ERA in 86.1 innings pitched with the Washington Nationals.
Since that season, Ramirez’s production has been on a downward trajectory. His ERA+ has been a poor 72 in the last two seasons, and his ERA rose to 5.81. Despite finishing with a 3-0 record in 2024, Ramirez accumulated minus-0.2 bWAR.
One interesting note about Ramirez’s production last season was that he held batters to a .130 BABIP in limited action.
Ramirez, who will turn 35 in May, hopes to be a multi-inning reliever at some point this season. However, it’s hard to imagine Ramirez playing a major role in the Twins bullpen, barring significant injuries.
While Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax headline what should be a dominant bullpen this season, the Twins will also count on getting production from right-handed pitchers such as Cole Sands, Jorge Alcala, and Brock Stewart.
According to Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors, the best bet for Ramirez is as a depth piece down at the Triple-A level. With an opt-out in his contract, Ramirez can leave the Twins if he believes he will not get much playing time.
Ramirez has had a successful 13-year career in MLB, but this signing does not change the Twins’ situation.
The 2024 campaign saw Ramirez have an unproductive season in Tampa Bay, and with age becoming a factor, Ramirez might have a cup of coffee at best with the Twins this upcoming season.
