The Nationals introduced on Monday that they’ve chosen outfielder/designated hitter Harold Ramírez. Washington optioned nook infielder Trey Lipscomb to Triple-A Rochester to clear a spot on the energetic roster. The Nats have had a emptiness on the 40-man for weeks, in order that they didn’t have to make a transfer in that regard.
Ramírez inked a minor league cope with Washington a pair weeks in the past. The Rays had considerably surprisingly launched him after a gradual begin to the season. The 29-year-old had hit .268/.284/.305 over 48 video games. Whereas the batting common was strong, he solely hit one homer and drew walks in fewer than 2% of his plate appearances. Between the diminished offense and Ramírez’s restricted defensive profile, he was squeezed off the Tampa Bay roster.
All 29 different groups handed on an opportunity so as to add Ramírez for the $2MM+ which remained on his $3.8MM arbitration wage. As soon as he cleared waivers, the Rays had been left on the hook for that cash (minus the prorated portion of the $740K league minimal for any time he spent on one other staff’s MLB roster). Whereas he didn’t instantly safe a giant league spot, Ramírez solely wanted seven video games in Rochester to play his approach again to the massive leagues. He tattooed Triple-A pitching, selecting up 9 hits and drawing six walks over 31 journeys to the dish.
The Nationals have left-handed hitting Jesse Winker and Eddie Rosario as their respective starters at designated hitter and in left discipline. Ramírez might ostensibly take some reps in opposition to left-handed pitching at both spot. The righty-swinging Ramírez has mashed southpaws at a .361/.393/.483 clip in 303 plate appearances for the reason that begin of the 2022 season. He owns a extra pedestrian .274/.314/.380 line in opposition to right-handed arms over that stretch.
Ramírez has greater than 5 years of MLB service time, so the Nats can’t ship him again to the minors with out his consent. Washington can maintain him round via the 2025 season by way of arbitration, although he might want to hit higher than he did early within the 12 months with Tampa Bay to keep away from being non-tendered.
Andrew Golden of the Washington Submit first reported (on X) that Ramírez was becoming a member of the Nats.
