Yankees deal reliever to Dodgers who had career season in 2023

Lefty reliever Nick Ramirez pitched to a 2.66 ERA in 32 games with the Yankees last season, but didn't make their Opening Day roster and was traded to the Dodgers on Tuesday.
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PHOENIX — Veteran reliever Nick Ramirez was an unsung hero last season in a Yankees’ bullpen that had the lowest ERA in the majors.

The 34-year-old left-hander never got a chance for an encore this year after falling down on the depth chart over the winter.

Ramirez didn’t make the Yankees’ Opening Day roster, he lost his 40-man status three days into the season and now he’s a goner.

Designated for assignment last weekend, Ramirez was traded to the Dodgers on Tuesday for cash considerations.

While bouncing back and forth between the Yankees and Triple-A in 2023, Ramirez had a standout season wherever he was. Called up six different times by the Yankees, the 6-foot-4, 232 pounder relied on 89-mph sinkers and 79-mph changeups to pitch to a career-best 2.66 ERA over 32 outings.

Prior to joining the Yankees, Ramirez logged a 4.55 ERA in 64 big-league games over three seasons with the Tigers (2019-20) and Padres (2021).

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RESTORING THE GLORY

Going into last winter, Ramirez probably liked his chances of being in the Yankees’ bullpen plans for 2024, but they went into spring training with two lefty relievers virtually guaranteed roster spots after free agency led to the departure of Wandy Peralta and additions of Victor Ramirez and Caleb Ferguson in separate trades with the Dodgers.

Tommy Kahnle’s season-opening IL stint opened up a bullpen spot for the start of the season, but Ramirez didn’t help his case pitching to a 4.35 ERA in seven Grapefruit League outings.

It was obvious that the4 Yankees were ready to move on from Ramirez last Saturday when they added lefty starter Tanner Tully to their 40-man roster and called him up from Scranton for a day.

Tully took rookie Clayton Beeter’s 26-man roster spot and Ramirez’s 40-man spot, then was DFA’d on Monday when the Yankees added reliever Jake Cousins to their active roster.

The Yankees acquired Cousins, a righty, from the White Sox on Sunday for cash considerations.

The was no immediate word if Ramirez would be added to the Dodgers’ 26-man roster or be optioned. He filled a 40-man roster spot that opened when the Dodgers transferred reliever Brusdar Graterol from the 15- to 60-day injured list.

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Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com.

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