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MLB Trade Rumors 2019: Top 25 assets

By Joshua Sadlock

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 20: San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner (40) throws a pitch during a MLB game between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 20, 2019 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 20: San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner (40) throws a pitch during a MLB game between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 20, 2019 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 14: Wilson Ramos #40 of the New York Mets rounds the bases after hitting a grand slam against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park on May 14, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 14: Wilson Ramos #40 of the New York Mets rounds the bases after hitting a grand slam against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park on May 14, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

20. Wilson Ramos

If you are an aspiring Major Leaguer with less than perfect vision, might I suggest making a quick trip to your local eye doctor for LASIK surgery. New York Mets catcher Wilson Ramos is Exhibit A in support of the corrective vision procedure. Prior to having the surgery before the 2016 season, Ramos was a .258 /.301/.411 hitter with a long injury history. He was coming off a .229/.258/.358 season.

LASIK immediately turned Ramos from a 27-year-old on the brink of playing himself into a part-time role or out of the league entirely into a batting title contender, Silver Slugger and All-Star. He hit .307/.354/.496 with 22 home runs and 80 RBI in 131 games. Unfortunately, he suffered a severe knee injury in the season’s final month. Ramos recovered for most of the 2017 season, but returned to hit .306/.358/.487 with 15 home runs and 70 RBI in 111 games last season.

The Mets signed the 31-year-old as a free agent, and he is working towards a potential third All-Star appearance. Ramos is hitting .279/.356/.432 with nine home runs and 41 RBI in 69 games. Never more than an average defender, Ramos has seen his caught-stealing percent tumble to 13 percent and leads the Majors with nine passed balls. Contenders will be able to overlook the subpar defensive work from Ramos because of how much better his bat is than the average catcher’s.

With Ramos signed to a relatively cheap contract, the Mets should have no problem flipping him for a couple of mid-level prospects. It’s another season down the drain in Flushing, but the Mets can get something of value in exchange for their solid backstop.

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