Angels don’t make offer for Cesar Ramos, trade Collin Cowgill
Cesar Ramos pitches into the fourth inning of a game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Aug. 15.
The Angels cut ties with veteran reliever Cesar Ramos and reserve outfielder Collin Cowgill on Wednesday, declining to tender Ramos a 2016 contract and trading Cowgill to the Cleveland Indians for cash considerations.
The Angels tendered 2016 contracts to their four other arbitration-eligible players, pitchers Garrett Richards, Hector Santiago and Fernando Salas and right fielder Kole Calhoun.
Ramos, a 31-year-old left-hander from Long Beach State, went 2-1 with a 2.75 earned-run average in 65 games last season, with most of his appearances coming in low-leverage situations.
He was projected to make $1.7 million in 2016, a salary that General Manager Billy Eppler said was not prohibitive, but the emergence of left-hander Jose Alvarez, who went 4-3 with a 3.49 ERA in 64 games last season, mitigated the need for Ramos.
“It was not an easy decision, but it’s one that kind of demonstrates the confidence our staff has in Jose Alvarez,” Eppler said. “This speaks more to the value of Alvarez than it does about Cesar.”
Cowgill, a strong defensive player who missed 3 1/2 months of last season because of a right-wrist sprain, was not expected to be tendered a contract after hitting .188 in 55 games.
His status with the organization grew even more tenuous when the Angels signed former St. Louis Cardinals minor league outfielder Rafael Ortega to a major league contract on Tuesday.
Follow Mike DiGiovanna on Twitter @MikeDiGiovanna
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