Dodgers sign reliever AJ Ramos to a minor league contract
A day before the Dodgers are scheduled to hold their first official workout of training camp at Dodger Stadium, the club signed reliever AJ Ramos to a minor league contract Thursday, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
Ramos is expected to join the Dodgers’ player pool and participate in spring training. Player pools are capped at 60. The Dodgers announced 51 players for their pool Sunday.
Shoulder injuries have kept the 33-year-old Ramos from appearing in a major league game since May 2018. He missed the 2019 season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder.
Ramos began his career with the Miami Marlins, becoming the closer in his third full season. He made the All-Star team in 2016, his third season as closer, and posted a 2.78 career ERA with the Marlins before he was traded to the New York Mets during the 2017 season.
Ramos would join a deep Dodgers bullpen with questions at the back end. Closer Kenley Jansen is coming off his least effective season as a major leaguer. The Dodgers are counting on Joe Kelley and Blake Treinen to bounce back from disappointing years to serve as sturdy bridges to the ninth inning.
Pedro Baez and Ross Stripling are locks to make the team if healthy. Caleb Ferguson, Scott Alexander, Dylan Floro, Adam Kolarek, Brusdar Graterol, Jimmy Nelson and Tony Gonsolin are among the other options.
Clubs usually carry eight relievers, but that number could increase with expanded rosters this season. Teams will have 30-man rosters until the 15th day of the season, 28-man rosters until the 29th day and 26-man rosters for the remainder of the season.
