Unassuming Ramirez was invaluable to Nats this year

PLAYER REVIEW: ERASMO RAMIREZ

Age on opening day 2023: 32

How acquired: Signed as minor league free agent, March 2022

MLB service time: 8 years, 1 day

2022 salary: $700,000

Contract status: Free agent

2022 stats: 4-2, 2.92 ERA, 60 G, 2 GS, 0 SV, 86 1/3 IP, 79 H, 31 R, 28 ER, 11 HR, 14 BB, 61 SO, 6 HBP, 1.077 WHIP, 134 ERA+, 4.05 FIP, 0.4 fWAR, 1.5 bWAR

Quotable: “He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do, and then some. He’s been a quiet leader in the bullpen as well. He’s helped out a lot of guys. But he’s a bulldog. He takes the ball every day. If need be, multiple innings. We asked him to start one day, he had no problems with that. So he does whatever we asked him to do, and he’s been great.” – Davey Martinez

2022 analysis: Signed to a minor league deal at the start of spring training, Erasmo Ramirez didn’t break camp with the big league roster, but it didn’t take long for the veteran right-hander to find himself in the big leagues. The Nationals called him up from Triple-A Rochester only two weeks into the season after Hunter Harvey landed on the injured list. He never returned.

A jack of all trades, Ramirez was used in just about every conceivable role out of the bullpen. That included two emergency starts against the Braves, one due to a last-minute rain delay and one due to a doubleheader. As he enjoyed more and more success along the way, he found himself used in more and more situations of consequence. And he finished strong: Over his final 19 appearances, he produced a 1.55 ERA and 0.724 WHIP.

By season’s end, Ramirez not only was deemed the Nationals’ Pitcher of the Year in a vote of media members, he legitimately was one of the most effective and durable relievers in baseball. He was one of only three major league relievers to finish with an ERA under 3.00 while pitching at least 75 innings, along with the Rangers’ Brock Burke and the Angels’ Jaime Barra.

2023 outlook: Ramirez is set to become a free agent when the World Series concludes. Coming off one of the best seasons of his long career, he should garner interest on the open market. The question is whether the Nationals believe he’s likely to perform this well again next season and re-sign him before anyone else swoops in.

Ramirez essentially was a two-pitch guy this year. His cutter, which he threw in on left-handed hitters, was easily the most effective pitch, with hitters batting just .200 against it. The same couldn’t be said of his sinker, which he threw more right-handed hitters and produced a .320 opponents’ average. He would be wise to keep increasing his curveball usage, because that pitch was nearly unhittable (opponents were 2-for-19 off it).

Ramirez has the kind of rubber arm and willingness to do anything that makes him valuable to any team’s bullpen. The Nationals already have another guy who fits that description in Paolo Espino, who remains under club control. Is there room for both Espino and Ramirez on next year’s staff? If not, how confident are they in knowing which of the two would be better to retain?