Mets Bolster Bullpen With A.J. Ramos

Mets Get: A.J. Ramos (2-4, 3.63 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 20 SV, 47/22 K/BB, Age 30)
Marlins Get: Merandy Gonzalez (12-3, 1.78 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 89/21 K/BB at Class A and High Class A, Age 21)
Ricardo Cespedes (1 HR, 15 RBI, .243 AVG, 1 SB, 64 wRC+ at GCL, Class A Short Season, and Class A, Age 19)

The Mets added a proven bullpen arm in A.J. Ramos, and his most important positive may be that he still has another year of arbitration left and therefore another under contract. The Mets are 48-53 and are unlikely to contend this year behind the 61-39 Nationals, especially after trading Lucas Duda to the Rays, so Ramos is more important for next year than this year, when they may be without pending free agents Jeurys Familia and Addison Reed. He's been very good for the Marlins over the past few seasons, with his best being 2015, where he posted a 2.30 ERA, a 1.01 WHIP, and an 87/26 strikeout to walk ratio in 70.1 innings. He took a moderate step back as both the walks and hits went up (though home runs went down), as he posted a 2.81 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP over 67 appearances, striking out 73 and walking 35 in 64 innings. He's been streaky this year with a 3.63 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP, as he's gotten into grooves where he won't allow a run in ten or so straight appearances before posting back to back bad outings. For his career, Ramos is 15-16 with a 2.78 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP, striking out 379 and walking 173 in 327.1 innings, all with the Marlins.

Merandy Gonzalez was good in Short Season ball last year (2.87 ERA, 1.33 WHIP), but he has really taken well to full season ball in his age-21 season. The Dominican product dominated the Class A South Atlantic League, going 8-1 with a 1.55 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP over 11 starts for Columbia, striking out 65 and walking just 13 in 69.2 innings. Promoted to the High Class A Florida State League, he has continued to get outs, going 4-2 with a 2.23 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP over six starts for Port St. Lucie, striking out 24 and walking eight in 36.1 innings. He's much more control over command, meaning he can throw strikes easily (just 21 walks in 106 innings, 4.9% of the batters he's faced) but has difficulty commanding his pitches to the corners. He throws in the low to mid 90's right now with a solid curveball and changeup, and if he has to move to relief down the road, he'll be able to sit 95-97. He projects as a mid-rotation starter if he can learn command, but that's a big if. Ricardo Cespedes is a project, as he is just 19 years old playing in the low minors. He started the season off with Class A Columbia and slashed .417/.417/.500 over five games before being sidelined with an injury. He hasn't been great since returning, slashing .221/.253/.253 in 25 games between the Gulf Coast League and the New York-Penn League. He has all the tools, and it may be that all it takes for a breakout is consistent playing time. There's a good chance he never reaches the majors, but he's also the kind of player that has the potential to develop into a star.