Rays acquire Erasmo Ramirez from Mariners

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.-The Rays have acquired right-handed pitcher Erasmo Ramirez (eh-RASS-moh) from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for left-handed pitcher Mike Montgomery.

Ramirez, 24, made the Mariners Opening Day roster in 2014 and started their second game of the season. Over seven stints with Seattle last season, he went 1-6 with a 5.26 ERA (75.1-IP, 44-ER) in 17 games (14 starts). At the minor league level, he pitched in 16 games (15 starts) between Triple-A Tacoma and Class-A High Desert, going 6-6 with a 3.91 ERA (92-IP, 40-ER). Following the season, he pitched for Cardenales de Lara in the Venezuelan Winter League, going 2-0 with a 0.30 ERA (30-IP, 1-ER) and 22 strikeouts in five starts.

In five appearances (four starts) this spring, Ramirez is 1-2 with a 6.23 ERA (13-IP, 9-ER). Over parts of three major league seasons, he is 7-12 with a 4.62 ERA (206.2-IP, 106-ER) in 47 games (35 starts). He was originally signed by the Mariners as a non-drafted free agent in 2007 from Nicaragua and could become the first Nicaraguan-born player to appear in a game for the Rays. 

Montgomery, 25, pitched in six games out of the bullpen this spring, recording a 2.38 ERA (11.1-IP, 3-ER) with one save. The 25-year-old spent the 2014 season with Triple-A Durham, where he went 10-5 with a 4.29 ERA (126-IP, 60-ER) and was named an International League midseason All-Star. Over seven minor league seasons, he has compiled a 42-47 record and 4.28 ERA in 155 games (150 starts). Montgomery has been chosen by Baseball America as having the best changeup in his organization for four straight seasons with the Rays (2013-14) and Kansas City Royals (2011-12). He was acquired from the Royals on December 9, 2012, as part of a seven-player trade involving James Shields.