Trade Tree: Erasmo Ramírez

Alternative Title: The Present and Future Hope of Ners First Basemen

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I remember the first time I heard about Erasmo Ramirez, he had something like 80 strike outs and 0 walks in winter ball. I’m no stats guy, but I’d say that’s pretty good for a pitcher. He went on to have a meh career with the Ners, with 0.4 WAR in 3 seasons, mostly spent as a starter. But his lasting impact on the M’s is that he set the team up at first base for 2017 and (knock on wood for the Dan “The Manatee-Danatee” Vogelbach) beyond.

The first step in this Trade Tree is the exchange of Erasmo for Mike Montgomery, whom the team received from the Mariners’ constant partner-in-trade, the Tampa Bay Rays. Ramirez (left) and Monty had both struggled in 2014, and this trade was a change of scenery for both guys, who were falling off after promising 2013 seasons. In a classic example of Mariners’ luck, Erasmo would put up over 2 WAR in his first season with the Rays while Montgomery, still a starter at this point, had an ERA over 4.50 and 0.5 WAR. Meh, whatever. Erasmo hasn’t been great for TB since, and seems to have settled in a relief role.

The more interesting trade came when Monty was sold off to the Cubs for Vogelbach and Paul Blackburn. Montgomery would fill both starting and relief roles admirably for the future World Series Champions, and he now has a big shiny ring for his efforts. Vogelbach, meanwhile, is still trying to figure out MLB pitching and has racked up frequent-flyer miles between Seattle and Tacoma ever since the trade. His defense is starfish-esque, so his only chance to stick with the Ners is to hit the cover off the ball and hope to get on base a bunch. We are still waiting on that, as the ghost of Justin Smoak continues to haunt us from north of the wall (border). Paul Blackburn, meanwhile, was once the Ners’ 18th-rated prospect…but now is really only interesting because of who he was eventually traded for: Danny Valencia.

Wondering how the Mariners got Danny Valencia (right) for our 18th rated prospect, whose ceiling is a spot starter? Apparently Danny punched Billy Butler in the face last season and gave him a concussion, and was likely to be DFAd by Oakland because of this. That’s your fun fact of the day. Brief note: If Danny Valencia is willing to sucker punch Billy “Country Breakfast” Butler (best nickname in the MLB), is there anyone he isn’t willing to punch? You know Billy Butler has wrestled at least 3 different barnyard animals in his lifetime, and won at least 2 of those matches. Valencia also was forced to play 3B and OF for the A’s, and (based off of his current range at first), I’m going to say that didn’t go great. But his smile is indeed fantastic.

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