The Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers are close to a trade which would send 3rd basemen Aramis Ramirez to the Pirates. Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported the news.
Sources: Pirates and Brewers nearing agreement on a trade that would send 3B Aramis Ramirez to Pittsburgh.
— Bill Brink (@BrinkPG) July 23, 2015
With Josh Harrison and Jody Mercer on the disabled list the trade makes perfect sense to bring in Ramirez. Harrison and Mercer could be out up to six weeks as Ramirez figures to be the 3rd basemen while Jung Ho Kang will be the permanent shortstop. The trade to Pittsburgh will be a homecoming for Aramis as he spent his first 5 major league seasons in the steel city from 1998-2003.
The Brewers were motivated to move the veteran third basemen to a contender as he has already announced 2015 will be his last. The trade also allows the team to free up 5.74 million left on Ramirez’s contract. Milwaukee will acquire minor league pitcher Yhonathon Barrios in exchange for Ramirez. Barrios is not ranked among the Pirates top 20 prospects and is considered a low risk trade for Pittsburgh.
Ramirez, 37, is currently hitting .270 with 11 home runs in 2015. Pittsburgh added a solid veteran bat for the postseason run as the team is currently 54-40, 6 games behind St. Louis in the NL Central.
