MLB Trade Deadline Rumors: 5 trades Marlins should make

Trade A.J. Ramos to the Nationals

Simply put, losing teams don’t need good closers. After all, a team that loses more games than it wins has trouble taking a lead, much less keeping one late in games. Therefore, if a losing team has a good closer, it should look to trade him to a contending club in need in order to maximize its value.

Another general rule of thumb is avoiding making trades with teams in the same division. However, when a division rival is struggling in the late innings as much as the Washington Nationals, and would be willing to part with almost any prospect (top prospect Victor Robles may be untouchable) to grab the final piece of the World Series puzzle, it’s worth it.

The Nationals have the worst bullpen in baseball, statistically speaking. Washington relievers have posted a combined 5.20 ERA this season and have allowed a .276 batting average, both of which are the worst in baseball.

A.J. Ramos would be a huge upgrade and would help to stabilize the unit, particularly in the ninth inning. Ramos has a 3.51 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 33.1 innings across 34 appearances this season, and has 17 saves.

Though his ERA is higher than it has been since his 11-game debut in 2012, Ramos’ inconsistency this season can in part be attributed to the team’s overall inconsistency. It’s difficult for a closer to find his grove when he doesn’t have a lead to protect, so when the Marlins lost 20 of 27 games from April 26 to May 27, for example, Ramos pitched just eight times, and posted a 7.36 ERA during that stretch.

Since, the team is 24-16, and Ramos has posted a 1.96 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 18.1 innings in 18 appearances.