Grilled Cheese, Closers, and the AJ Ramos Trade
I remember it like it was yesterday. The day, July 28, 2017, will live on in my memory for two reasons: the AJ Ramos trade and a ruined grilled cheese.
I was mid flip after getting a crispy golden brown crust on the bottom half of a cheddar and swiss grilled cheese when someone broke the news to me. The AJ Ramos trade was a done deal. The Mets landed Ramos while the Marlins acquired two low-level minor leaguers.
At first, there was not much to consider with the deal, but the more I thought about it the stranger it seemed to be for the Mets. I let my mind wander on this idea as the browning bread burned beneath me.
Essentially, the Mets made a lateral move that can help the team stay afloat in 2017 by replacing closer stand in Addison Reed with Ramos, and in the future by bringing Ramos and Jeurys Familia together for the 2018 season (and the end of 2017).
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Will Reed get a larger contract this winter than Ramos, who will be in arbitration? What will the Mets get back when they trade Reed? Without the answers to these questions, a clear winner cannot be named since the Marlins received about market value for Ramos.
The Marlins landed right hander Merandy Gonzalez and outfielder Ricardo Cespedas. Fangraphs’ grades both players at a future value of 40.
Gonzalez, in high A, has an encouraging 5.3% BB% and a 15.7% K% as a starter. The Marlins took a gamble on Cespedas (more in-depth analysis here) that could pay off in the distant future.
The immediate fantasy implications
Ramos should see an increase in value as he will slide into the Mets closer role vacated by an injured Familia, who has a tentative mid-to-late August return date, and a soon-to-be-traded Reed. The Mets have been better than the Marlins this season but neither are world beaters, so only expect a marginal increase in save opportunities.
My grilled cheese is burned and so are Reed owners as this trade only adds to the Mets need to trade Reed for market value. Reed will no longer get consistent save chances as he could slot into a setup role for a team in the playoff hunt.
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For now, Brad Ziegler should get the first crack at Miami’s closing vacancy once he returns from injury, but look for Kyle Barraclough to also get a crack after coming off the 10-day DL as well. Both could be options in deeper leagues or NL only, but without many save opportunities, Marlins relievers do not have much fantasy upside.