Mets bolster bullpen, getting Ramos from Marlins
SEATTLE » The New York Mets have acquired reliever A.J. Ramos from the Miami Marlins for a pair of prospects.
The clubs announced the deal on Friday night, with the Mets sending Class A pitcher Merandy Gonzalez and outfielder Ricardo Cespedes back to the Marlins.
New York is seeking stability in a bullpen that’s been a mess since the loss of Jeurys Familia, who served a domestic violence suspension at the start of the season and then got hurt. The Mets have blown 13 of 36 save opportunities entering Friday’s game in Seattle and rank 26th in the major leagues in bullpen ERA at 4.81
Ramos, a 30-year-old righthander, was an All-Star in 2016 and this year is 2-4 with 20 saves and a 3.63 ERA in 40 appearances for the Marlins. He has a $6.55 million salary and is eligible for free agency after the 2018 season.
Mets reliever Addison Reed, closing in Familia’s absence, is eligible for free agency and has been the subject of trade rumors.
Tooth Scary: Yanks’ Judge visits dentist
NEW YORK » Aaron Judge is all done with the tooth scary — at least for now.
The New York Yankees slugger was back in the starting lineup Friday night, a day after he accidentally lost half of his front left tooth during a home-plate celebration .
“I’m all good,” he said. “Got it fixed.”
The AL home run leader saw a dentist earlier in the day and got a temporary replacement. Later, he’ll go back for a permanent piece.
On Thursday, Judge was jarred when Brett Gardner’s batting helmet accidentally popped him in the mouth. Gardner hit a winning home run in the bottom of the 11th inning and tossed his helmet as he approached the plate.
Judge picked up the helmet because he was worried someone might step on it and roll an ankle. Instead, he got hit by the helmet during all the jostling.
“Got me Judge said. pretty good,”
MLB plans Asian, England games
NEW YORK » Major League Baseball plans to start the 2019 and 2020 seasons in Asia and play regular-season games in England in June of both years.
The collective bargaining agreement reached in November was finalized and sent to the clubs Friday, and it contains a schedule for international play through 2021 along with how much extra money each player will receive for making the trips.
The agreement calls for the season opener to be played in Asia in 2018 and 2020 and specifies Japan for 2019. However, plans have not progressed for a 2018 Asian opener and those games are now unlikely, according to a baseball official familiar with the planning.