August 14: Washington introduced on Wednesday that they’ve positioned Ramirez on unconditional launch waivers.
August 13: The Nationals introduced that they’ve chosen the contracts of infielder Andrés Chaparro and right-hander Orlando Ribalta, two strikes that have been beforehand reported. In corresponding strikes, they designated infielder/outfielder Harold Ramírez and right-hander Jordan Weems for project.
Ramirez, 29, loved a pair of productive seasons with the 2022-23 Rays, hitting a mixed .306/.348/.432 in 869 journeys to the plate, however he stumbled badly out of the gates in 2024 and but to recuperate. The righty swinger posted a pleasant .268 batting common in 169 plate appearances with Tampa Bay however couldn’t couple that with any on-base or extra-base worth; he managed solely a .284 OBP and slugged simply .305. Ramirez was designated for project on June 7 and launched after no staff wished to accumulate/declare the rest of his $3.8MM wage.
Following his launch, Ramirez signed a minor league cope with the Nats and was again within the majors only a couple weeks after his launch. He’s appeared in 25 video games with Washington however hasn’t fared a lot better on the plate, hitting .243/.273/.365 in 77 plate appearances. The rebuilding Nationals will now use his roster spot to try the youthful Chaparro — one other right-handed bat that they acquired within the deadline commerce sending reliever Dylan Floro to Arizona.
Weems, 31, has been a daily presence within the Washington bullpen since 2022. He’s piled up 136 innings as a Nat however logged a mixed 5.03 ERA in that point. Weems sandwiched a powerful 2023 displaying between a pair of lackluster seasons in 2022 and 2024. He’s pitched 41 2/3 innings this season however been rocked for a 6.70 ERA with a career-low 17.9% strikeout charge and a career-worst 12.2% stroll charge (excluding the 20% stroll charge he notched in 5 2/3 innings again in 2021).
Weems reached three years of huge league service in 2024 and is out of minor league choices. Which means the Nats would’ve needed to tender him a increase in arbitration this winter and carry him on the massive league roster to start the 2025 season. They’ll as a substitute transfer on from the right-hander and, as with Ramirez, flip that roster spot over to a younger possibility who’s posted some fascinating numbers within the minors this 12 months.
With the commerce deadline now behind us, the Nationals’ solely plan of action with Ramirez and Weems will likely be to position them on both outright waivers or launch waivers. The opposite 29 golf equipment will all have an opportunity to say them. (Ramirez’s wage continues to be being paid by the Rays, so he’d solely price a brand new staff the prorated league minimal.) Each may have the appropriate to reject the project in favor of free company, by advantage of their MLB service time.