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Twins sign ex-Rays reliever to minor league deal

ByMason Stacy|
Mar 1, 2024; Bradenton, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Erasmo Ramirez (61) throws a pitch during the second inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at LECOM Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Mar 1, 2024; Bradenton, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Erasmo Ramirez (61) throws a pitch during the second inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at LECOM Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Former Rays relief pitcher Erasmo Ramirez has agreed to a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins. The Nicaraguan native has experienced an up-and-down career in his 13 major league seasons, but overall he's put together a respectable resume with a sub-5.00 ERA and close to 1,000 innings under his belt. Although the right-handed hurler could be playing for his seventh MLB team, Ramirez displayed his best work in a Rays uniform.

The 6'0 reliever actually completed two separate stints with the Rays in his career. The first stretch was from 2015-2017. This span of time was within his prime as he started his first campaign with the Rays at the young age of 25. The 2015 season was Ramirez's most successful year to date as he produced a 1.8 WAR and appeared in a career-high 163 innings. The cutter specialist went 11-6 in 27 starts and finished with a 3.75 ERA.

The Rays decided to utilize the right-hander in a different way for the following season. Instead of starting 27 games, Ramirez was only a starter in one game, but instead made 63 relief appearances. His ERA was still below 4.00, but his strikeout rate and overall production faltered a little bit.

In 2017, Erasmo Ramirez was traded back to the Mariners for right-handed pitcher Steve Cishek. Ramirez was never able to reclaim the success he found with the Rays as each season afterwards, besides 2020 and 2022, he finished with a negative WAR.

In 2022, the righty was able to catch a second wind at the ripe age of 32, going 4-2 with a 2.92 ERA. This successful season in the National League East may have been a key factor in his return to the Rays in 2023.

Tampa Bay signed Erasmo Ramirez to a minor league deal in 2023 and he was able to contribute on the big league club for the past two seasons. However, he was much less fruitful this time around as he accrued a 0.9 combined WAR. In 53 innings of work, Ramirez allowed 34 earned runs and 12 home runs. He also only struck out 45 hitters in those frames.

Despite the 34-year old's bumpy stretch of play, we wish him the best and hope that he can make a solid impact with the Minnesota Twins.

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