Native Astro says that the Astros have signed catcher Max Ramirez.
Ramirez has hit .297/.394/.474 in eight minor-league seasons with the Braves, Rangers, and part of this season with the Cubs. He was hitting .235/.300/.353 with the Cubs in 2011, and was released by the Cubs on May 6.
Ramirez has had as much of a circuitous career as Brett Wallace, having been signed by the Braves as an amateur free agent in 2002, then traded to Cleveland in 2006, and traded to Texas in 2007. The Rangers tried to trade Ramirez to Boston for Mike Lowell, but Lowell failed his physical, so the deal was nullified. Then the Rangers selected him off waivers on January 5, but was instead given to the Cubs six days later. And then got released.
UPDATE: Yes, they have. Ramirez will report to Oklahoma City, while Carlos Corporan is on the DL.
Fred Nelson:
“With Corporan being on the DL, we thought he’d be a good sign. If anything should happen in the big leagues, we want to see if he’s a candidate or not.”
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
