The Cubs acquired Ranger minor leaguer Neil Ramirez as the player to be named later in the Matt Garza trade.The Cubs had an option to select Ramirez or two other minor league pitchers as part of the deal. The Cubs chose Ramirez.
MLBTR reports that Ramirez, 24, was ranked as the 23rd best prospect in the Rangers'
system heading into this season by Baseball America, but the publication
had him as high as No. 5 at one point thanks to his strong 2011 minor
league season. In 2012, his stock fell a bit as he dealt with shoulder
fatigue and was demoted to Double-A to finish out the season. Ramirez
was a starter during his time in the Texas system, but BA writes that
the club saw his big league future in the bullpen as he had a tendency
to overthink things when in the rotation.
The right-hander has spent all of 2013 with the Rangers' Double-A
affiliate, posting a 3.84 ERA with 11.1 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 in 21 starts.
He'll stay at the Double-A level as he will report to the Cubs'
affiliate in Tennessee.
If Ramirez stock as a prospect was beginning to fall (from a projected starter now to a projected bullpen arm), then one may question why the Cubs selected Ramirez over two lower prospects whom may have had a higher potential upside.
Ramirez has been in the minors for 6 years. He has reached AAA two times, in 2011 and 2012, but has fallen back to AA.In 6 season, his minor league career record is 36-35, 4.40 ERA, 1.308 WHIP in 126 starts.
