The Rays have released designated hitter/outfielder Harold Ramirez following last week’s DFA, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. He’s now a free agent who can sign with any club.
Ramirez always seemed likely to end up on the open market after his DFA. As we noted when he was designated for assignment, the 29-year-old’s combination of offensive struggles and relatively notable salary obligation made him a virtual lock to pass through either outright waivers or release waivers. And since he surpassed five years of major league service time earlier this season (and thus gained the right to retain his salary even upon rejecting an outright assignment), there was no real distinction between the two types of waivers in his case.
The Rays will remain on the hook for the balance of Ramirez’s $3.8MM salary. There’s about $2.19MM of that sum left to be paid out as of this writing. A new team would only owe Ramirez the prorated league minimum for any time spent on the big league roster (about $426K from now through season’s end, or just shy of $4K per day). That sum would be subtracted from what Tampa Bay owes Ramirez, but the Rays are stuck with the significant majority of his salary regardless.
Tampa Bay explored trades involving Ramirez both at the offseason’s non-tender deadline and again during spring training but didn’t find a deal to their liking. That came in spite of a big 2022-23 showing that saw Ramirez slash .306/.348/.432 in 869 trips to the plate, with a particular knack for pummeling left-handed pitching. Strong as that offensive output was, Ramirez lacks defensive value — he’s a poor defender in the outfield corners and at first base — and is a free-swinger who rarely draws a walk. He’s been primarily a designated hitter with the Rays.
The 2024 season has been a challenge for Ramirez. He’s hitting .268, a perfectly fine mark, but has coupled that with an ugly .284 on-base percentage and a punchless .305 slugging percentage. He’s hitting .310 in a small sample of 58 plate appearances against lefties but has only one walk and a .379 slugging percentage in those matchups. Effectively, Ramirez has been a singles-hitting, short-side platoon designated hitter. Because of his lack of walks and power, his overall offensive output has been 27% worse than league-average, by measure of wRC+.
Given those struggles, it’s not at all surprising that no team wanted to commit nearly $2.2MM to Ramirez by placing a waiver claim. But now that he’s a free agent who’d cost the prorated minimum, Ramirez becomes a far more interesting flier who should draw broad-reaching interest — especially from teams who have been lacking production against left-handed pitching. Speculatively speaking, each of the Reds, Nationals, Rangers and Cardinals rank in the bottom-third of the league in terms of both DH production and production against left-handers. But, given the low cost of acquisition now associated with Ramirez — who can be controlled through the 2025 season via arbitration — it’s easy to make a case for the majority of teams taking a no-risk roll of the dice on his right-handed bat.
The Rays are releasing players who’d be batting cleanup for the Tigers
Not sure which organization that says more about
You mean like the player Detroit sent them who’s now batting clean-up? Paredes?
He’s a DH and they have Malloy there finally. Not sure why he’d be an upgrade over Malloy or Canha for DH at bats?
lol. comment of the day
Astros?
Wouldn’t mind adding HRAM to the Padres for the stretch run. Especially with Profar hurting. Dude’s a professional bat, and I’d be willing to bet he ends up coming up big in the post season for whoever signs him.
If you need singles, with no glove or speed, he’s your guy!
So you’re saying he is arraez, us padres fans love arraez.
Temp Luis Arraez
A 72 OPS+ makes him an upgrade to the pathetic bottom of the Dodgers lineup
Bottom 3 of dodgers lineup combine for 72 lol
Needs to find a team that highly rates singles hitters. Padres? Giants?
I’d like him on the Mets but they have too many right handed hitters as we speak. If this was mid-late July, they could bring him in but he will be picked up within days.
But but but your fellow Mets fans feel you’re fine with Brandon Nimmo in LF trying to get walks. Why would you need a guy that actually swings and hits the ball? Or has your fan base changed now and would like a guy who actually swings and hits .268 with an OBP of .284 and don’t really favor the guy who hits .220 so he keeps his bat glued to his shoulder to pad his OBP against pitchers who struggle with the strikezone to give him his .345 OBP?
WTH happened to Harold? Two straight very good seasons at the plate in 2022 and 2023 and then this. So many players have significantly declined on that squad all at the same time. Diaz, Arozarena, Ramirez, and even Lowe.
Offense league wide has just been atrocious this year. Virtually unwatchable
As it appears you are a SF Giants fan, I understand your unwatchable comment as it relates to offense. : -)
As a Rays fan I noticed his attitude began to change late last year. He wasn’t playing as much and when they attempted to trade in the off season instead of going to arb, it started out even worse this year. Whoever gets him will get an amazing PHer. He’ll produce much more.
Ramirez is still an upgrade over much of the Rays starting lineup. Don’t understand why he got released
He can’t play a lick of defense and hits for average with no pop…
And every other team, if I understand what clearing waivers means. Yes?
@LaBellaVita
Not a good statement. Teams prefer to pay minimum wage and let the previous team pay the bulk of the tab. It’s good business and does not reflect the quality of the player.
Are you willing to pay more for something you want when you can have it for less? If so, I’d be willing to sell you a tool shed for $50K. I’ll even throw in a lawnmower for $10k.
I understand your point. The error on my part was that the comment was directed toward the wrong poster, and it was too cryptic. I’m in agreement with you. No team saw him as an upgrade worth taking over his payments. Hence, it was no shock he was not claimed.
Now, what was shocking was that the Mariners gave Devenski an MLB contract.
3.8 mil is too expensive for the rays apparently
No. He’s not. He gets a single every other game, cannot play defense, and cannot run. The Rays have struggled mightily this year (I watch most of their games), but I have wanted them to shed him for weeks now.
I feel like I am in the twilight zone on this DB–all these people who think Harold Ramirez is some type of hot commodity. Just watch the games lol! I love Harold, he always plays hard, but that is not enough in MLB…and hitting some singles (no power, no glove, no speed) is not sufficient. Period.
Rangers
Nobody values average anymore
Its all about 440 ft bombs
Johnny Utah
Batting average doesn’t really have any value
People properly value extra base hits relative to singles now instead of over valuing singles
A high average guy has value in any line-up. You can’t score from 2B on a walk.
However, you have to have another quality if you don’t bat .325^. Either be a speedy base stealer or a good glove.
Cleaver
Can’t hit into a double play or an out on the bases on a walk.
So, walks are better than hitting the ball.
Right?
Or you see the flaw in that argument? If you do, you should see the flaw in the runner on second argument. Do you?
Yes, singles are better than walks in general
And doubles are better than singles
And triples are better than doubles
And home runs are better than triples
Obvious, right
So why on earth do so many people champion a stat that treats and home run and a single as equal? And pretends walks don’t exist?
Batting average has no value.
It doesn’t even tell you how often a player gets a hit
CBeisbol
That’s why games are really close or blowouts. There’s no situational hitting or “passing the buck” down to the next guy in order to keep innings alive. Hitters are trained to swing full force just like pitchers are instructed to throw every pitch full force. It’s not about the actual basis of the game, just maximum velocity, launch angle, movement ect. Most pitchers can’t actually pitch, they throw hard. That’s the difference in the game now versus just 20 years ago. These pitchers now couldn’t last against hitters in the past. 2-3 innings and they would be over 100 pitches because they could actually hit. Sad but true.
bbf
“”That’s why games are really close or blowouts. ”
That’s, uh, not true.
“These pitchers now couldn’t last against hitters in the past. 2-3 innings and they would be over 100 pitches because they could actually hit. Sad but true.”
Provide evidence that this is true.
You’re not off to a good start.
Well the Brewers have changed their approach. A lot more contact and a walk and stolen base is as good as a double. Moving guys along with hustle got rid of strike outs. They run everything out. Getting more at bats per game. Stealing and bunting done. No launch angle just hitting where they aren’t
stubby
“walk and stolen base is as good as a double”
No. It’s not. What? Do you watch baseball or just look at the stats?
@beisbol
when someone says a walk and a stolen base is as good as a double, in 1 sense that is correct because its 2 bases and puts a guy in scoring position. however you are also correct that its not as good as a double bec if there’s already a runner in scoring position a walk does nothing. while a double gets him home. that being said, a squad like the 2014-2015 royals who got on base any way possible and stole often and played small ball won 2 pennants and a WS. the dbacks won the NLCS last year and hit only 5 home runs in 7 games. the point is, home runs are not always essential to winning games. look at someone like luis arraez. all he does is hit singles. zero power. zero speed. never walks. but he’s a leadoff batter. getting a single nearly every time he’s at bat is his job. he’s part of a dying breed. its all or nothing today
Johnny Utah
“when someone says a walk and a stolen base is as good as a double, in 1 sense that is correct because its 2 bases and puts a guy in scoring position. however you are also correct that its not as good as a double bec if there’s already a runner in scoring position a walk does nothing. while a double gets him home”
Right.. So, a single and steal IS NOT as good as a double. Glad that we cleared that up.
” its all or nothing today”
This not true. What? Do you watch baseball OR look at the statistics?
What value did Harold bring? Have you watched his games???
The Rays have a defense problem. In the past, it seemed like the pieces all snapped together to make a greater part. That hasn’t been the case since mid last year.
This was kind of a surprise. There are worse hitters on Rays and in MLB @#@ whole, he will sticks on another team.
There seems to be some sort of chatter that the Reds are interested. Wouldn’t surprise me much.
Hope so ! Great ballpark and division to try to bounce back in
Reds should give him a shot. I am all about our youth movement but we could sure use a righty off the bench. Singles hitter or otherwise.
With a little playoff experience
Welcome to Baltimore
lololol
He’s needed in Seattle!
There’s a lot of players with a positive track record in the past getting cut right now. Great time to be a team with top talent and no depth to take some minor league flyers.
Guys like H-Ram should be lining up to talk to Preller. And the financially strapped padres could have a guy like Jose abreau for league minimum this year and next, with no obligation.
The Mariners could use his bat in there wildly ineffective lineup that can’t hit. Give him a shot what have you got to lose.
I hope he joins a team and rakes to embarrass Rays coaches and management.