The Washington Nationals designated outfielder/designated hitter Harold Ramirez and pitcher Jordan Weems for assignment on Tuesday and selected the contracts of infielder Andres Chaparro and right-hander Orlando Ribalta from the minors in corresponding moves. Ramirez will now be looking for his third team of the 2024 season after starting the year with the Tampa Bay Rays. The 29-year-old Columbian outfielder hit .243/.273/.365 with a weak .638 OPS, a home run, four doubles, one triple, 16 RBI and seven runs scored in only 25 games after the Nationals picked him up. Ramirez's best season came last year in Tampa, when he slashed .313/.353/.460 with an .813 OPS, 12 homers, 68 RBI and five steals in 122 games played.
The Washington Nationals selected the contract of outfielder Harold Ramirez from the minors on Monday and optioned infield prospect Trey Lipscomb to Triple-A Rochester in a corresponding move. Ramirez has made it back to the big leagues after being cut by the Tampa Bay Rays and signing a minor-league deal with Washington on June 15. The 29-year-old wasn't in the team's starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the San Diego Padres, and Ramirez figures to only draw into the starting lineup in the outfield or as the designated hitter when the team faces a left-handed pitcher. The Columbian outfielder hit .268/.284/.305 with just one homer, 13 RBI and a career-high-tying five stolen bases in 48 games this year in Tampa. Ramirez has limited power (37 career homers in six years) and fantasy upside as a part-time player.
Tampa Bay Rays infielder Isaac Paredes and outfielder/designated hitter Harold Ramirez are not in the team's starting lineup on Wednesday against the hosting Milwaukee Brewers. Curtis Mead is starting at third base and batting ninth, while Yandy Diaz is the designated hitter and batting leadoff against Brewers right-hander Colin Rea. Austin Shenton is at first base and is hitting fifth. Paredes will take a seat after starting each of the team's last 11 games. The 25-year-old has been a solid fantasy contributor with a .291/.358/.509 slash line, an .867 OPS, seven home runs and 17 RBI in 110 at-bats. Ramirez will be on the bench for the third time in the last five games and is losing playing time while going 27-for-106 (.255) to open the year with a homer, 10 RBI and three steals. With Jonathan Aranda's (finger) return on the horizon, Ramirez's fantasy stock could plummet even further.
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Harold Ramirez is on the bench for Monday's contest against the visiting Texas Rangers after he started each of the team's first four games as the designated hitter. Yandy Diaz will serve as the DH and bat leadoff for the Rays, while Austin Shenton gets the nod at first base and will hit eighth against Rangers right-hander Dane Dunning. Ramirez could probably use the day off after going just 1-for-17 (.059) with three strikeouts in the first four games of the 2024 season over the weekend against the Toronto Blue Jays. If Shenton gets off to a hot start offensively for the Rays, he could see more playing time moving forward at the cold corner against right-handed pitcher after he hit .304/.423/.584 with 29 home runs in the minors in 2023.
The Tampa Bay Rays won their salary arbitration case over designated hitter Harold Ramirez on Thursday. Ramirez will make $3.8 million in 2024 instead of the $4.3 million that he had filed for. This was Ramirez's third year of arbitration eligibility, and he'll see a $1.6 million increase from his salary a year ago. The 29-year-old has been mentioned as a trade candidate during the offseason and will have to compete for playing time with Jonathan Aranda if he sticks around with the Rays. He hit a strong .313/.353/.460 and an .813 OPS with career-highs in home runs (12), RBI (68), stolen bases (five) and runs scored (58) in 122 games in 2023 in his second year with the team. Ramirez has absolutely tortured left-handed pitching the last two years, making him the perfect platoon player for DFS.
The Tampa Bay Rays have been shopping designated hitter Harold Ramirez, whose OPS+ the last two seasons is 21 percent above league average, according to sources. Ramirez is projected to earn $4.4 million in arbitration next season, according to MLB Trade Rumors, and trading him would create even more at-bats for Jonathan Aranda and 25-year-old Curtis Mead. Aranda should fill the first base/DH role for the Rays against right-handers now that Luke Raley is in Seattle. The 29-year-old Ramirez hit a strong .313/.353/.460 with 12 home runs and five stolen bases in 122 games in 2023 and hits both righties and lefties well. He could be a candidate for an everyday role if he leaves Tampa, but he also doesn't hit the ball in the air enough to be much of a power asset for fantasy managers.
Harold Ramirez Racks Up Five Hits During Doubleheader
Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Harold Ramirez went 2-for-3 in Game 1 and 3-for-5 in Game 2 of Saturday's twin bill with the Boston Red Sox. The 28-year-old recorded two runs and two RBI in both contests, piling up four of each in total on the day and also added a stolen base. Ramirez got his average back up to .305 with the efforts. The outfielder's .290 xBA sits in the top 10 percent of baseball as well. Ramirez may not be the flashiest player to roster in fantasy and doesn't play every day. However, anyone hitting in the top-half of Tampa Bay's prolific offense deserves the attention of fantasy managers. Ramirez now owns 24 runs scored, eight homers, 27 RBI, and two stolen bases amidst a career-best hitting campaign.
Harold Ramirez Stays Hot, Hits Sixth Homer Tuesday
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Harold Ramirez had another solid game at the plate in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Pirates. Ramirez went 2-for-3 with a single, a solo home run, two RBI, a walk, a strikeout, and his first stolen base of the season. The 28-year-old has continued what he started last season and is now slashing .342/.412/.658 with six HR and 13 RBI. He is currently rostered in just 51 percent of leagues, so he is available for fantasy managers looking to add a spark to their lineups.
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Harold Ramirez went 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI, two runs scored, a walk and a strikeout in the team's come-from-behind, walk-off win over the Chicago White Sox on Friday night by a score of 8-7. Ramirez now has four long balls on the year and is on a nice little seven-game hitting streak as the Rays remained undefeated at home so far in 2023. Fantasy managers are taking note of the 28-year-old's power in the early going this season, and Ramirez is also hitting a strong .373 (19-for-51) with three doubles, four home runs, nine RBI and 10 runs scored in 56 plate appearances and 15 games played. Continue to ride him in fantasy.
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Harold Ramirez won his salary arbitration case over the team on Thursday, according to a source. He will make $2.2 million in 2023 instead of the $1.9 million that the Rays filed for. Ramirez is an outfield regular for the Rays heading into the 2023 season after he slashed an impressive .300/.343/.404 with a career-high .747 OPS, six home runs, 58 RBI, 46 runs scored and three stolen bases in a career-high 120 games last year. The 28-year-old could spend more time at first base with Ji-Man Choi now gone, but he'll also have outfield eligibility for fantasy managers. Ramirez makes a lot of hard contact, but you shouldn't expect another .300 batting average.
