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So the Rays just signed a really flipping good catcher in Wilson Ramos. Yes, he’s coming off an injury, but he’s been pretty great otherwise.
With the exception of Asdrubal Cabrera, the Rays don’t typically sign great free agents, so Rays fans freaked when they heard the news... Well, at least the writers here at DRaysBay did.
Here’s how it went down in our Slack chat room:
JT Morgan
Hear Wilson Ramos has a 2-yr offer from #Rays and could be close to a decision
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 7, 2016
Whoa
Whoa
Whoa
Danny Russell
DEFCON
JT Morgan
That would be much better than getting Castro.
Darby Robinson
YUUUUUP
JT Morgan
Even if you're only getting 1.5 of the 2 years.
Mark Suleymanov
Wilson Ramos has been aiming for a 2-year deal at the Winter Meetings, source told SBN. Rays involved.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) December 7, 2016
John Ford
Considering there is a good chance the Rays would be out of contention by the time he was ready, one yr seems bad even at a discount. Two yrs has me excited tho
JT Morgan
I could understand Ramos wanting a full season before going on the market and avoid next year will he will be the 2nd best behind Lucroy regardless how he performs.
Darby Robinson
2 year is perfect for Rays. Get him for a year and a half and then QO him
And kinda perfect for Wilson too, since, like you said JT, he'd be better getting a full season of production under his belt before hitting the market again
JT Morgan
Ya gives Ramos a full season off the injury to display what he can do before going to a FA.
Darby Robinson
He'd still only be 31 so he could get a nice 3 year deal
JT Morgan
#Rays are in agreement with Ramos on 2-yr deal pending physical and that physical is a big deal because of knee
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 7, 2016
Holy flipping flip!
Darby Robinson
WOW this is actually happening?!!?
JT Morgan
I don't even think I'm capable of writing words right now.
Dan Slaubaugh
Holy flip. This is incredible.
JT Morgan
Ya, this is huge flipping news is Rays world.
Adam Sanford
wait...the Rays signed a free agent?
Dan Slaubaugh
Ramos slashed .307/.354/.496 last season with a .850 OPS. in 131 games.
Darby Robinson
Ramos is freaking amazing. He's always been great with the glove, and that year his bat just came alive
Adam Sanford
!!!!
Ramos get $12.5M with playing time incentives to make 18.25M over 2 #rays
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 7, 2016
That's a lot
Not really, but a lot in Rays terms
JT Morgan
Ya I'm only used to sleeping til February and then shopping at the Christmas closeout.
That's really flipping good.
In Rays money it's a good chunk, but I absolutely love this move.
Darby Robinson
Flipping flip.
Sandy was dead on about his numbers too: "Call it a 2/18 and figure out how to split later."
JT Morgan
Breaking News: Rays Flipping Do Something and Sign A Flipping Beast Catcher!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Danny Russell
Holy Moses - Did the Rays really just sign the best FA catcher on the market???
Can this not happen while Fixer Upper is on?
JT Morgan
It’s not much more than people are expecting Castillo to get in guaranteed money.
Brett Phillips
WHAT
John Ford
We got a catcher!!!!!!!!
JT Morgan
We got a flipping catcher that can hit a flipping baseball.
Sorry for all the cursing, but it's going to flow for a bit.
Darby Robinson
It seems that this move also kind of indicates that the Rays weren't cheap with Castro, just didn't like the 3 year commitment at that price.
Bradley Neveu
Omflipppppppp
JT Morgan
Ya, I like this move a lot more than Castro
Darby Robinson
Obviously you can't predict this, but what a great thing to fall right into our laps. No problem taking the risk on health and money, since it's a short term deal and such a freaking awesome player
JT Morgan
It's not even close.
Rob Willer
What a get
JT Morgan
What do I do with my hands?
Darby Robinson
A great defensive catcher who has hit 15 or more HRs in 4 of his 6 seasons
A career 100 wRC+ from a catcher! Who is, again, an amazing defensive player
Now I know I have at least one exciting thing to talk about on friday for the show
Rob Willer
Christmas came early folks of course pending a physical.
John Ford
Shut yer mouf Willer
No negative vibes
JT Morgan
I'm still not sure what to do with my hands when I'm not typing.
Bradley Neveu
I'm a little tingly
what do i do with my hands?
Darby Robinson
Take it with a mountain of salt, but there was a report in the DC news that Ramos is progressing really well and his people are aiming for April or May. I wouldn't expect a free agent to say anything different
Jared Ward
WOW
SORRY JUST SAW EVERYTHING
Stoked for this move
JT Morgan
Ya, the physical isn't nothing with a guy with a 2nd knee injury, but holy flip they're attempting to do something big. (edited)
Bradley Neveu
I was gonna post internet reactions... I would copy paste this chat room but a lot of cleaning would be needed
JT Morgan
lol
Sorry
Bradley Neveu
Actually Flip it I'm gonna do that
JT Morgan
I'm not really sorry.
John Ford
I haven't been this excited about a Rays signing since...
Oh flip
Never mind
JT Morgan
Catcher coming off a 5.3 WARP season.
JT Morgan
He's inconsistent with the bat, but he has the potential to put up a 5 win season.
He has a 4.7 and 5.3 in his career.
Who's pumped, I'm pumped.
Assuming physical goes well and deal finalized, #Rays expect Ramos back in the majors June/July. May DH at 1st but plan is for him to catch.
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) December 7, 2016
Bradley Neveu
guys give me a good word to replace every expletive with
right now it's "flip" because dan said that once
JT Morgan
lol
Darby Robinson
Pumpernickel
Bradley Neveu
Sorry Darby, I’m just too lazy to go back and write pumpernickel 1900 times.
Thank you Wilson Ramos for making every Rays fan a little happier today. Jonah Hill probably said it best for all of us: