NY Mets Monday Morning GM: 5 most important spring training non-roster invitees

3) Jose Ramos

Pay close attention because the Mets have another player in camp with a similar name. Jose Ramos is the ex-Dodgers prospect who came over on a minor league deal. He’s 25 and coming off of a year where he hit .295 in his first 167 trips to the plate in Triple-A. The Pacific Coast League definitely helped him. He batted just .229 in 1235 trips to the plate in Double-A.

His age makes him a unique free agent. So does the power.

In his brief Triple-A experience, Ramos added 8 home runs. He swings for the fences, compiling 92 total dingers and 727 strikeouts in his first 2478 plate appearances.

We can understand why the Dodgers might have cut him loose. Moreover, we can appreciate the Mets giving him an opportunity.

He has played some center field but probably fits best as a corner outfield option. Already Rule 5 Draft eligible, this season won’t be so much about making a name for himself and clearing a path as a member of the Mets as it will be to just land on the radar.

Outfield depth isn’t a huge strength of the Mets. The team may very well end up with Brett Baty in left field to begin the year. There’s a really good chance Ramos never sees the light of a major league inning even if he dominates in Syracuse. Even so, this was a worthwhile gamble that could even lead to a simple trade. We’ll thank Stearns when he sends Ramos for a reliever the Mets get the most out of for two weeks.