Reds news: Noé Ramirez avoids arbitration with one-year deal

The Reds signed Noé Ramirez to a one-year deal.

According to Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Noé Ramirez, formerly of the Los Angeles Angels, agreed to a one-year/$1.175M contract with the Cincinnati Reds on Friday. The one-year agreement ensures Ramirez, who was acquired in the the trade for Raisel Iglesias, will not enter arbitration this winter.

Not many Reds fans are familiar with Ramirez. Heck, why would they be? Until a few weeks ago the right-hander was part of the Angels organization. However, in what amounted to a salary-dump on the behalf of the Cincinnati front office, Ramirez and infield prospect Leonardo Rivas were shipped to the Queen City in exchange for Cincinnati’s closer Iglesias.

Ramirez was 1-0 last season with a 3.00 ERA in 21 games. The 31-year-old struck out 14 batters over 21 innings pitched and posted a 1.143 WHIP. For his career, Ramirez is 13-10, including eight starts and owns a 4.18 ERA.

Ramirez is one of six players the Cincinnati Reds hope to sign today, as there is a 1PM deadline for teams and players to exchange arbitration figures. It’s highly likely that Ramirez’s deal won’t be the only one we hear about today.

Michael Lorenzen, Amir Garrett, Luis Castillo, Tyler Mahle, and and Jesse Winker are all on the clock as well. For Lorenzen, this is his final time through the process and the right-hander may be in line for ac contract extension. However, Castillo, Garrett, Winker, and Mahle are entering the arbitration process for the very first time.

Look for Ramirez to find a home in the Cincinnati bullpen this coming season. He’ll likely join Garrett, Lucas Sims, Tejay Antone, and Brandon Bailey. The Reds have yet to fill out their 40-man roster, so more players are likely to be added in the coming weeks.

For the sake of the Cincinnati Reds and their fans, hopefully a starting shortstop is added sooner rather than later. With DJ LeMahieu signing a six-year contract with the New York Yankees earlier today, perhaps the front office will ramp up discussions with former farmhand Didi Gregorius.