Cubs claim Max Ramirez

[Southpaw191679666239]

ChrisDeLuca | Chris De Luca

Cubs claim C Max Ramirez from Red Sox and put him on 40-man roster

[erik316wttn]

I know nothing about this guy? Will he be backing up Soto?

[series65cubsfan]

is he better than Hill.

[Clem Fandango]

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. Please cut Koyie Hill and make Ramirez the backup.

 

I know nothing about this guy? Will he be backing up Soto?

 

Most likely. Showed a lot of offensive promise in the minors a couple years ago, getting a little older now though. He's a great buy low candidate for a backup to Soto. Unfamiliar with his defensive reputation though, but if he fills in for Soto he has upside to not be an offensive black hole

[rocket]

it sounds like he's a poor defender at catcher. maybe he's a bat off the bench, backup 1st baseman, and emergency catcher? i have a hard time believing the cubs will get rid of hill when they seem to dismiss geo's defensive ability

[Post Count Padder]

He used to be a somewhat highly regarded prospect, no? I'd love to see him replace Hill as Soto's backup.

[Guest]

Ramirez used to be a top prospect and will be 26 for the whole season. His limited MLB numbers are fine for a backup C as well. Shrewd move.

[Guest]

Official Press Release:

 

CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today claimed catcher Max Ramirez off waivers from the Boston Red Sox. Chicago’s 40-man roster now stands at 39 players.

 

Ramirez was claimed off waivers by the Red Sox from the Texas Rangers last Wednesday, January 5. He split the 2010 campaign between the Rangers and their Triple-A Oklahoma City affiliate. Ramirez played 56 games with Oklahoma City, batting .286 (54-for-189) with nine doubles, three home runs, 29 RBI and a .373 on-base percentage. In 28 games in the big leagues last year, Ramirez batted .217 (15-for-69) with three doubles, two home runs, eight RBI and a .341 on-base percentage.

 

The 26-year-old Ramirez played in the 2007 Futures Game and was rated as having the best strike zone judgment in the Carolina League (Single-A) following that season. Ramirez made his major league debut a season later with the Rangers and batted .217 (10-for-46) with two home runs and nine RBI in 17 games.

 

Ramirez has a career .217 batting average (25-for-115) with four doubles, four home runs, 17 RBI and a .343 on-base percentage in 45 major league games with Texas (2008 and 2010).

 

A native of Barquisimeto, Venezuela, Ramirez was originally signed by the Atlanta Braves as a non-drafted free agent on October 1, 2002. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Ramirez spent one season in the Cleveland organization after being acquired for pitcher Bob Wickman on July 20, 2006. He joined the Rangers on July 27, 2007 in the trade that sent outfielder Kenny Lofton to Cleveland.

[AI]

Glad to see Max get a fresh start. Solid bat that can play multiple positions. He's not a plus defender but isn't terrible either. Definitely would be preferable to Hill as a backup.

[Old Style]

Who isn't an upgrade from Hill?

[Cubs Fan Dan]

Who isn't an upgrade from Hill?

 

Please do not bring up Paul Bako.

[UMFan83]

Who isn't an upgrade from Hill?

 

Neifi Perez

[soonercub]

Some nice video of him. One nice play as a first baseman in a spring training game.

 

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/search/media.jsp?player_id=445615

 

I like what he considers 175 pounds! I feel lighter already.

[sneakypower]

i love to see us make these types of moves.

[Guancous]

Here is Callis's top ten Rangers prospects from 2009. Check out the company Max Ramirez is keeping:

 

1) Neftali Feliz, RHP, Grade A: I don’t give out Grade As lightly, especially to pitchers. I might go down to A-.

 

2) Justin Smoak, 1B, Grade A-: I like him better than Alonso and Hosmer, and frankly I can’t believe the Rangers got him.

 

3) Elvis Andrus, SS, Grade A-: Should I go with B+ here? Athletic, very young for Double-A, I think the Renteria comparisons are apt and Andrus could be better.

 

4) Derek Holland, LHP, Grade B+: He’s great, but I worry that sometimes a step backward can follow such a breakout. Can he maintain late-season velocity?

 

5) Taylor Teagarden, C, Grade B: Excellent glove with power, could hit anywhere from .230 to .280 though.

 

6) Julio Borbon, OF, Grade B: I was too hard on him last year, and I buy into the idea that he can refine his game.

 

7) Engel Beltre, OF, Grade B: Read the comment below.

 

8) Michael Main, RHP, Grade B: Impressive Midwest League performance, and if instructional league reports are accurate he is primed for a huge breakout.

 

9) Max Ramirez, C-1B, Grade B: I love this bat. Glove might not be QUITE as bad as everyone says, but it isn’t good enough for him to rank higher.

 

10) Martin Perez, LHP, Grade B-: Very young, very high ceiling, will need time.

[Wheelimus]

Who isn't an upgrade from Hill?

 

Neifi Perez

 

You need to stop being disrespectful. Why, if he could catch I'd take Neifi's bat over Hill's any day of the week. :lol:

 

Of course I'd probably take any random college backstop over the both of them. Sight unseen.

[NonProfitCow]

Really solid move. If he could cut his K rate a bit he's just about starter quality.

[javy knows my name]

I had no idea Teagarden was a catcher

 

Has Ramirez just been blocked by better prospects because he's been bounced from one excellent system to another? He's still only 26 and I think he was in both systems' top tens at some point.

 

I'm with Sneaky, I LOVE when we make these types of moves

[soonercub]

With this move seems like the positions players are set on the 25 man roster. I think Max is back up 1b and reserve catcher. Maybe someone might battle Barney for backup SS-2nd. What do you think? Any more moves you expect?

[shnsajax]

I saw him play probably 12 times at AA-Frisco in 2008 and he was hitting everything in site to all fields with power. Also walked a good deal too. He's probably more of a DH than an everyday catcher, but as a backup and bat off the bench he could be very solid. I really like this move just out of potential and dumping Hill.

[wekim81]

Considering he has options, i think he's more likely ticketed for AAA, and Koyie Hill will still be the big league backup.

[Cubs Fan Dan]

Baker

Fukucolvin

Ramirez

Hill

Barney

 

Am i missing anyone? I would rather round out the bench with Perez and Ramirez and say bye bye Hill, if there is going to be a weak hitter atleast have him be a good late defensive replacement for Soriano / pinch runner.

[jersey cubs fan]

Considering he has options, i think he's more likely ticketed for AAA, and Koyie Hill will still be the big league backup.

 

Maybe. But they did seem to have a need for RH bat that could play some 1B and 3B. It seems like he's a candidate to fill that role plus emergency catcher rather than competing with Hill for backup catcher.

[dew1679666265]

Big fan of this move. They'll probably give Hill through spring training, but with Castillo and now Ramirez available, I have to imagine it'd be difficult to keep Hill.

[JeffH]

I hope they take him north rather than doing the dopey thing and keeping a twelfth pitcher.

 

Fukudome/Colvin-Perez-Baker-Barney-Ramirez-Hill

 

Not much of a bench, but it's better than the David Patton Experiment.