[ad_1]
New manager AJ Hinch’s wish has been granted: the Detroit Tigers sign a receiver.
The Tigers are in the process of finalizing a one-year contract with wide receiver Wilson Ramos, a league source told MLive on Tuesday night.
The news was first reported by Jose Rivera from WOW Deportes, who said the contract would be worth $ 2 million.
Ramos’ agent later confirmed the deal on Twitter.
33-year-old Venezuelan Ramos has spent the last two seasons with the Mets. He has a 0.755 OPS career (103 OPS +), well above average for a wide receiver, but his defense has had some question marks in recent years.
He became a free agent after the Mets turned down a $ 10 million contract option for 2021 and paid him a $ 1.5 million buyout instead.
The Tigers currently have two catchers on the 40-man roster at Grayson Greiner and Jake Rogers. Veterans Eric Haase and Dustin Garneau are expected to be invited to spring training.
The Tigers have struggled offensively at wide receiver since non-tender James McCann after the 2018 season. They signed Austin Romine a year for a $ 4.1 million contract a year ago, but he had hard to plate after a hot start.
Hinch, a former receiver, said earlier Tuesday that he “ideally” would like to add another receiver to the mix before spring training.
“In a perfect world there’s still a guy out there who can help us out, but if the market is producing this, if this is how we choose to spend our dollars, it’s obviously up to (general manager Al Avila ), ”He says.
Ramos made his MLB debut for the Minnesota Twins in 2010, but was traded to the Washington Nationals later that year. He spent seven seasons with the Nats, making the All-Star Game in 2016.
He signed with the Tampa Bay Rays ahead of the 2017 season and was traded to Philadelphia at the end of 2018. Over the past three seasons, he has hit .288 with a .785 OPS and 34 home runs in 1,095 home plate appearances. .
Ramos got high marks for his glove early in his career, but defensive concerns were magnified as he got older.
It’s unclear whether the Tigers are eyeing Ramos as a backup or a starter. Rogers, one of the top prospects who turns 26 in April, is known for his top notch defense behind the plate but struggled with the bat. He could end up splitting playing time with veteran Ramos.
Ramos made headlines almost 10 years ago when he was kidnapped at gunpoint by kidnappers who then demanded ransom payments. Venezuelan commandos released him on November 11, 2011, a date he has now tattooed on his forearm.
“I know many [kidnapping] cases in my country where these people never go home, never see their families again, ”Ramos told MLB.com. “That’s why I say I was born again, because God let me come out of it all unharmed and it was another chance to live.
Ramos is the third Major League free agent signed by the Tigers this winter, joining pitcher Jose Urena (one year, $ 3.25 million) and outfielder Robbie Grossman (two years, $ 10 million).
The Tigers will need to remove a player from the 40-man roster when Ramos’ signing becomes official.
TIGER FREE AGENT SIGNS
Major League (3): RHP Jose Urena, DE Robbie Grossman, C Wilson Ramos. 3
Minor League (14): LHP Ian Krol *, C Dustin Garneau *, LHP Locke St. John, RHP AJ Ladwig, RHP Henry Martinez, RHP Zac Shepherd, IF Isrrael De La Cruz, LHP Miguel Del Pozo, LHP Robbie Ross, RHP Andrew Moore, IF Yariel Gonzalez, 1B Aderlin Rodriguez, RHP Erasmo Ramirez *, LHP Derek Holland, IF Drew Ward.
* – confirmed invitation to spring training
[ad_2]
Source link