J.C.

Ramirez

Ramírez signed a minor league contract with the Twins back in late March after splitting the last two years between teams in the Mexican League and Taiwan’s Chinese Professional Baseball League. The 33-year-old righty recorded a lackluster 5.66 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 28/21 K/BB ratio across 35 innings (16 appearances, two starts) this season at Triple-A St. Paul.

Ramírez split the last two years between teams in the Mexican League and Taiwan’s Chinese Professional Baseball League. He last appeared in the majors with the Angels back in 2019. The 33-year-old righty holds a serviceable 4.71 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 204/105 K/BB ratio across 288 1/3 innings at the big-league level since 2013. He’ll provide the Twins with some organizational relief depth.

The deal was announced by the team and confirmed by Ramirez on social media. The 32-year-old didn’t pitch in the majors this past season after returning to the Angels on a minor league deal. He made just seven appearances between 2018-2019 due to Tommy John surgery.

Ramirez was re-signed by the Angels to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training, and has missed large portions of the last two seasons while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The 31-year-old would be able to work as a reliever still, obviously, but this would give the Angels extra depth -- something their rotation will likely need. It’s also possible Ramirez could work as a “bulk” pitcher behind an opener, assuming he does make the club.

Ramirez missed large chunks of the 2018 and 2019 seasons while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he is full healthy now and will function as organizational pitching depth for the Angels leading into the 2020 campaign. The 31-year-old right-hander has experience as both a starter and reliever.

He’s been booted from the team’s 40-man roster. Ramirez had to clear waivers because he was out of minor-league options. The right-hander can either accept his minor-league assignment or refuse it and opt for free agency. The soon-to-be 31-year-old (his birthday is Friday) has reportedly struggled with his velocity while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.

Ramirez will join the Angels’ bullpen in a multi-inning role on Tuesday after missing the first four months of the season while recovering from Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery. He posted a 7.40 ERA over 12 minor league rehab appearances, but the Halos are desperate for fresh arms.

There was some speculation the Ramirez could come back and start -- or operate as the “bulk” pitcher -- for Saturday, but that ends that talk. The right-hander has not pitched well in his rehab time and owns an 8.31 ERA in his work with High-A Inland Empire. Whenever Ramirez comes back, it would be a bad idea to add him off the waiver wire.

He’s spent the past few weeks in the minors rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. The right-hander is confident he’ll make it back by the end of the month, which coincides with the end of his 30-day rehab window. Ramirez has looked rusty, posting a sluggish 8.00 ERA across 36 minor-league innings. He’ll likely return to the rotation next year, though for now, it’s probably better for the Angels to use him in small doses.

Ramirez got lit up for seven earned runs on 10 hits and two walks in a five-inning outing Thursday versus Triple-A Las Vegas. He is on the way back from Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery.