The Brewers sign Mike Gonzalez

By Craig CalcaterraDec 28, 2012, 2:09 PM EST
7 Comments

If teams want to spend the rest of the afternoon making minor bullpen signings I’d be just fine with that. I’m sorta watching “A Christmas Story” while scanning the baseball news, and these short things mesh well with that.  [“It ’twas … soap … poisoning!”]

Anyway:

 

Gonzalez appeared in 47 games for the Nationals last season, posting a 3.03 ERA and striking out 39 hitters in 35 and two-thirds innings of LOOGY work. A nice pickup to bolster what was a miserable Brewer bullpen this past season.

Oh, and be sure to drink your Ovaltine.

Report: Mets sign Wilson Ramos to two-year, $19 million deal

Rob Carr/Getty Images
By Bill BaerDec 16, 2018, 4:55 PM EST
9 Comments

The Mets have signed catcher Wilson Ramos to a two-year deal, SNY’s Andy Martino reports. The total value of the contract is $19 million, per Fancred’s Jon Heyman.

Ramos, 31, split last season between the Rays and Phillies, putting up one of the best offensive seasons among catchers. In 416 total plate appearances, he hit .306/.358/.487 with 15 home runs and 70 RBI.

Ramos will presumably get the lion’s share of plate appearances behind the plate with Travis d'Arnaud backing him up. Grandal was made a qualifying offer, so the Mets would have had to forfeit a draft pick to sign him. And, of course, Realmuto would have cost prospects. Ramos simply costs money.

The Mets were aggressively pursuing a catching upgrade, having been involved in rumors surrounding J.T. Realmuto and Yasmani Grandal, but ultimately settled on Ramos. New GM Brodie Van Wagenen has made a significant impact on the team already, having also added second baseman Robinson Canó and closer Edwin Díaz from a trade with the Mariners.