Each year at 213 we look through the Non-Roster Invitees to spring training and get to know them a bit. Are they in camp to get a look at big league hitting/pitching to aid their development? Are the Mets just trying to get a better look at a future rookie? Are they a veteran trying to get back to the major league level? What can we expect from them this season?
The Mets signed Erasmo Ramirez because they need more starting pitcher / long relief depth. This isn’t new. It’s while the Mets signed Hector Santiago and Arquimedes Caminero last year. Ramirez was signed by the Mariners in 2007 and made his debut with the Mariners in 2012. Three years later he was traded to the Rays for Mike Montgomery and two years after that he was traded back to the Mariners for Steve Cishek. He is fresh off a one year deal with the Red Sox.
Last season he only got into one game and allowed 4 runs over 3.0 innings while posting a 4.74 ERA over 24 starts and 125.1 innings in Pawtucket. This included a 1.340 WHIP, 6.8 K/9 and a 2.21 K/BB which were all worse than his major league averages (1.255 WHIP, 7.0 K/9, 2.73 K/BB). 2018 was the last time he saw significant playing time in the majors and had a 6.50 ERA, 6.69 FIP, 1.401 WHIP over 45.2 innings. This was a major step down from his previous season where between the Rays and Mariners he pitched in 37 games, 19 starts, 131.1 innings with a 4.39 ERA, 4.43 FIP, 1.173 WHIP, and 7.5 K/9.
Ramirez will be 30 this season, and what he has shown the last several years is he can eat innings, especially in Triple A which is probably where he is heading. If the Mets need him, then many, many things have gone wrong (or Ramirez suddenly starts dominating in Syracuse despite his recent performance). After Wacha/Porcello/Gsellman the Mets don’t have too many attractive options in the rotation and the Mets in recent years have had to go searching for people to make starts (hello Santiago last year). Ramirez is smart option for the Mets and hopefully the Mets don’t need to use him this year, and if they do, hopefully he is more like his 2017 self.
