Stanton frustrated after Ramos trade
Move signals another lost season for Miami
MIAMI — Trades of popular players always hit hard inside a clubhouse. For Giancarlo Stanton, the trade of AJ Ramos was personal because the Miami Marlins’ closer was his closest friend.
But Stanton’s grim mood in the aftermath of Ramos being dealt to the New York Mets late Friday for two minor league prospects reflected frustration with the larger ramifications for the ballclub.
“Every trade for minor-leaguers is two or three years away from seeing the result of that trade,” Stanton said Saturday. “That means two or three years of every person taken away is a couple years until you realize what that means.”
To that point, the Marlins got a promising right-hander in Merandy Gonzalez who is 12-3 with a 1.78 ERA in 17 starts at two levels of Class A ball this season. In addition, Ricardo Cespedes, an outfielder with impressive all-around skills, is only 19.
When Stanton signed longterm with the Marlins after the 2014 season, he said he wasn’t content to cash an astronomical paycheck, he wants to win.
They haven’t had a winning season since he joined the club in 2010. They were five games under .500 and far out of post-
season contention when Ramos joined David Phelps as key relief pitchers dealt away in the past week with the aim of restocking a depleted farm system.
“The same thing every year,” Stanton said of the Marlins again playing themselves into position of seller approaching Monday’s nonwaiver trade deadline.
Michael Hill, the Marlins president of baseball operations, said there could be more trades in the next couple of days.
Even though Stanton has a no-trade clause in his contract, his name keeps surfacing in trade rumors.
Given his desire to play for a winner and frustration with that likelihood again pushed further into the future for Miami, it is conceivable he would be willing to go to the type of team that can afford his contract. Stanton’s salary jumps to $25 million next season.
Asked if the front office keeps him informed about inquiries from other teams, Stanton said, “Yeah, I’m aware of things.”
Meanwhile, manager Don Mattingly was faced with restructuring a bullpen that is also missing Kyle Barraclough and Nick Wittgren who are on the disabled list. Barraclough had been mentioned as the likely closer if Ramos was traded.
Instead, Mattingly said that task initially will go to veteran Brad Ziegler, who was activated from the DL on Saturday.
Ziegler, 37, has 85 saves in 10 seasons, including a career30 in 2015.
That was the basis for signing him to a two-year, $16 million contract in the offseason. But the veteran whose submarine style delivery has baffled hitters in the past was uncharacteristically hittable with a 6.52 ERA in 34 appearances before a lower back strain sidelined him in late June.
“I know his season hasn’t went well. At this point it is more of a new start,” Mattingly said. “He’s a guy who has really true experience of doing that. It allows me to control and protect him as far as getting him up and down.
“Counting on him to be able to do what he’s been able to do in the past.… Guys usually always end up close to what they’ve always been.”
Meanwhile, parting with Ramos was difficult for teammates aswell as for Hill and others in the front office.
Ramos was the Marlins’ 21st-round selection in the 2009 draft and made his debut with the Marlins in 2012. He has 92 saves in 111 chances for Miami, ranking third on the Marlins’ alltime list.
“That kind of hits home when you have a guy like that, that’s kind of like one of your own,” Mattingly said. “But the way AJ handled it, just a true pro. I just have an appreciation for who he is. You can depend on him, even though they weren’t always 1-2-3 [innings], but AJ always seemed to get the job done. … just a guy we liked having.
“But you also know your situation where you’re at.”
Given the Marlins situation, the trade was no surprise. Even Hill had made it know the team was looking to deal Ramos, who was earning $6.55 million this season and had one year of arbitration eligibility remaining.
Mattingly foreshadowed it after Ramos worked a four-out save Thursday in what would be his final appearance for the Marlins, saying, “He’s probably the only guy I’ve ever been around that’s never come and said I’m sore today, I don’t feel good. It’s been nice to have him.”
Ramos posted on Twitter: “Miami! What a ride it’s been. I’m truly thankful for the time I’ve spent wearing a Marlins uniform. To the Marlins fans, thank you for the love and support.”
Coincidentally, Friday was the first of five games that Ramos donated 40 tickets for coaches and families of one of the Marlins’ charity partners, Up 2Us Sports. Unfortunately, he won’t be present for the pregame meet andat the other four.
Stanton can continue to look forward to the offseason travels that he and Ramos have taken to several continents in recent years.
As for the separation as teammates, Stanton said, “It’s different in terms of just going through the year and the grind together as we do. In general, it will be fine.”
The direction of the club and those who remain is less certain. Trading established players for future hope is just a reality the Marlins have created for themselves after a 10-18 record in May buried them in the standings, Mattingly said.
“If I get to play [general manager] for a second, and you look at the situation here in Miami, I think you’re always looking to kind of stay young,” Mattingly said. “You have to be able tomove guys at the right time. If you go too long, and then you don’t get anything in return, it kind of sets you backwards.”
Darvish tipping?
Mattingly disputed reports that Texas Rangers’ Yu Darvish was tipping his pitches when he gave up a career-high 10 runs to the Marlins on Wednesday.
“We didn’t have anything. Usually teams wouldn’t say if we did. But we’re not going to face these guys next year. We didn’t have anything,” Mattingly said. “We really didn’t hit his breaking ball, we hit his fastball. Guys just jumped that fastball, you know. I think we just had a good night.”
Seven of the nine hits were off fastballs.