Brewers trade third baseman Aramis Ramirez to Pirates
The Milwaukee Brewers have traded third baseman Aramis Ramirez and cash considerations to the Pittsburgh Pirates, the teams announced on Thursday. In exchange, the Brewers have received minor-league righthanded pitcher Yhonathan Barrios. The teams will also reportedly split the remaining $6 million left on Ramirez's contract, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's Tom Haudricourt.
Ramirez was signed by the Pirates as an amateur free agent in 1994 and played the first six years of his career there. Pittsburgh traded him to the Chicago Cubs on July 23, 2003, where he played until signing with the Brewers as a free agent in 2011. This season, the 37-year-old Ramirez is hitting .247 with 11 home runs and 42 RBIs in 302 plate appearances over 81 games. Last year, he was named an All-Star and finished with 15 home runs, 66 RBIs and a .285 average.
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Barrios, a former infielder, is currently pitching at Triple A. In 33 games between Double and Triple A this season, the 23-year-old has a 2.68 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 40 1/3 innings. The Brewers have optioned him to Double A Biloxi and called up pitcher David Goforth to take Ramirez's roster spot.
The Pirates are currently 54–40 and six games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the NL Central division lead. Milwaukee is in last place in the division with a 42–53 record.
- Molly Geary
