Los Angeles Angels acquire Cesar Ramos from Tampa Bay Rays

Left-handed reliever Cesar Ramos has been acquired by the Los Angeles Angels, according to the team’s Twitter account. Los Angeles is sending right-hander Mark Sappington to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange.

Ramos figured to be a favorite to keep a spot in the Rays’ bullpen heading into the 2015 season, offering a reliable long reliever that the team’s been able to count on in year’s past. This past season Ramos appeared in 43 games for the Rays, including 7 starts. In a career high 82.2 IP he posted a 3.70 ERA and 1.355 WHIP. Opposing batters hit just .215/.294/.318 against him as a reliever, but the numbers were far less encouraging when asked to start the game.

Robbie Knopf at Rays Colored Glasses discussed the Rays’ potential 2015 bullpen makeup a week ago, concluding that Ramos was a borderline candidate to make the team barring an outside signing this offseason. Knopf ultimately didn’t sound enthralled with the idea of Ramos being guaranteed a spot on next year’s team:

"He’s a halfway decent reliever capable of providing length, but he is never going to be a real option for bigger situations."

Ramos, 30, figures to give the Angels another left-handed option heading into next season. The team struggled at times to fill the role in 2014 and the free agent market for left-handed relievers figures to be a shallow group outside of Andrew Miller.

Sappington, meanwhile, was the #5 prospects in the Angels’ system heading into the 2014 season, according to Baseball America. The 23 year old struggled at Double-A to begin the season and was sent back to High-A after making just nine starts. He spent much of the season’s second half working in relief where he started to see better results. He made 42 combined appearances on the year, including 17 starts. In 113.2 IP he finished with a 6.02 ERA, 1.786 WHIP, and a career-worst 6.3 BB/9.

It’s unclear whether the Rays are viewing him as a starter or a reliever moving forward.