Tampa continues to add arms to bullpen before the deadline.
On Friday, the Rays sent RHP Erasmo Ramirez back to Seattle where they originally acquired him from in 2015 in return for RHP Steve Cishek.
Thanks, Erasmo, and good luck! pic.twitter.com/TUgoVERW1B
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) July 28, 2017
Since joining the Rays in 2015, Erasmo has been as valuable as any arm on their staff. Between the rotation and bullpen he’s proven to be one of the more versatile arms in the game. The 27-year old finished his Rays career pitching in 124 games, 36 of them starts. He amassed a 22-20 record and a 3.98 ERA in 323.1 innings. He ranks fourth all-time among Nicaraguan-born pitchers with 171 career appearances.
OFFICIAL: #Rays acquire RH reliever Steve Cishek from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for RH Erasmo Ramirez. pic.twitter.com/N5MmMy22P4
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) July 28, 2017
Cishek, 31, is an eight-year veteran. Seattle is his third team since coming into MLB back in 2010 with the Miami (then Florida) Marlins. Over the span of 396 games, he’s recorded 121 saves and a very impressive 2.86 ERA. He began the 2017 season on the 10-day DL recovering from labrum surgery back in October last year. Since May 16, he’s been dominant, pitching to 1.86 ERA in 21 appearances out of the Mariners bullpen.
Duda added, Kittredge optioned
Friday also saw 1B/DH Lucas Duda added to the roster and placed immediately into the lineup in New York. To make room, RHP Andrew Kittredge was optioned to Durham.
A corresponding move will need to be made before Cishek is added over the weekend.
Wheeling and dealing.
Cishek is the fourth veteran player the Rays have acquired via trade this week and the sixth acquired over the last six weeks, each with at least six seasons in the major leagues. They previously completed trades for infielder Trevor Plouffe (June 17), shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria (June 26), right-handed pitcher Sergio Romo (July 23), left-handed pitcher Dan Jennings (July 27) and Duda (July 27).
