Quick Notes: Nationals sign designated hitter/outfielder Harold Ramirez

The Washington Nationals announced that they have signed designated hitter/outfielder Harold Ramirez to a Minor League contract and will report to Triple A-Rochester.

The Tampa Bay Rays just released Ramirez.

According to MLB Trade Rumors, 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.”

Ramirez has a batting average of .268. However, an on-base percentage of .284 and a .305 slugging percentage aren’t great. 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.

Ramirez will fit into the Nationals lineup as the team is missing DH production and production against left-handers, so this low-cost option makes this a good signing. He will report to Triple-A Rocester Red Wings.

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