Washington Nationals: 5 possible replacements for Matt Wieters
By Drew Douglas
Wilson Ramos
A longtime fan favorite in DC, Ramos is a prime candidate to return to the nation’s capital. “The Buffalo” slashed .268/.313/.430 in seven seasons with the Nats and has continued to rake since signing with the Tampa Bay Rays.
In 32 games, Ramos has slashed .289/.333/.430 with four homers, including a 13-game hitting streak. His .289 average is also best among American League catchers.
A major concern with Ramos, though, is his health. He tore his ACL twice while with the Nats, making the AL a better fit. He has caught in 30 of his 32 games, but he can serve as the Rays’ designated hitter if he wears down as the season progresses. The Nats would not have this luxury.
While Ramos could not DH with the Nats, he could receive additional days off. Severino has established himself as a solid starting catcher but has never played more than 98 games in a season as a professional.
Due to Ramos’ injury history and Severino’s inexperience, both catchers could benefit from a platoon. Because they are both capable of starting, it would be relatively easy for Dave Martinez to give each catcher the necessary days off to stay healthy and productive.
Despite Ramos’ hot start, he is likely to wind up on the trade block. He is in the final year of his contract, and the Rays are not in a position to contend. Tampa Bay figures to sell at the deadline, with Ramos, Chris Archer, and Alex Colome, among others, possibly being dealt.
It appeared that we had seen the last of Ramos donning the Curly W, but that may not be the case.