Pirates Sign Yohan Ramírez to Minor League Deal

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed right-handed reliever Yohan Ramírez to a minor league deal, according to the team’s transaction logs.

If that name sounds familiar, it should. Ramírez pitched parts of two seasons with the Pirates from 2022-23 after he was acquired from the Cleveland Guardians in a midseason trade.

In 48 combined appearances between his two seasons in Pittsburgh, Ramírez went 4-1 with one save, a 3.67 ERA and struck out 52 batters in 61.1 innings.

After the Pirates designated him for assignment at the beginning of September, Ramírez bounced between five different teams including a pair of stints with the New York Mets.

This past season, the 29-year-old combined for 32 appearances between the Dodgers, Mets, Orioles and Red Sox. Across five seasons in the big leagues, Ramírez has gone 6-9 with a 4.58 ERA, 173 strikeouts and 86 walks in 169 innings.

Assuming Ramírez receives an invitation to Major League spring training, Ramírez will have a chance to compete for a spot in the bullpen. The Pirates’ bullpen was an unexpected weak spot this past season.

There will be several spots to fill in the bullpen for next season as Aroldis Chapman, Jalen Beeks and Ryan Borucki will all hit free agency next month.