Kansas City adds Ramirez to bullpen
The Kansas City Royals purchased the contract of Horacio Ramirez from Triple-A Omaha on Sunday, adding the veteran left-hander to their bullpen.
Ramirez went 8-7 with a 7.16 ERA in 20 starts last season with Seattle, which released him in spring training. He has a 38-29 record with a 4.61 ERA in 106 career games, all but two starts.
“He’s able to pitch against left-handers and right-handers,” manager Trey Hillman said. “He’s stretched out. He’s an experienced guy. We’ll probably use him long for the most part, but we’ll utilize him as needed and help to get to the guys we’re using in the back end in Ramon Ramirez and Ron Mahay to get to (Joakim) Soria.”
The Royals signed Horacio Ramirez to a minor league contract on May 21, and he went 1-1 with a 1.42 ERA in three starts with Omaha.
“Last year I was on the (disabled list) for about six weeks for shoulder tendinitis, shoulder discomfort,” said Ramirez, who played for Atlanta for four seasons before joining the Mariners. “It kind of bugged me after that. I was never 100 percent, but I don’t think that’s an excuse for what I did. I was still able to go out there when the ball was given to me.
“I just didn’t make the adjustment real well going from the National League to the American League.”
Kansas City optioned rookie right-hander Carlos Rosa to Omaha to make room for Ramirez.
Chacon sent to Astros’ pen
Houston Astros pitcher Shawn Chacon was dropped from the starting rotation and will be used in the bullpen.
The right-hander is 2-3 with a 5.04 ERA in 15 starts this season.
“We think he’s going to help us more there right now,” Astros manager Cecil Cooper said. “A little bit of inconsistency the last month or so. We think we have some other options to try.”
Right-hander Runelvys Hernandez, currently with Triple-A Round Rock, could replace Chacon in the rotation.
Chacon is no stranger to shifting roles. Out of his 269 career appearances, 134 have been starts and 135 have been in relief.
Pittsburgh starter to DL
The Pirates placed rookie starter Phil Dumatrait on the 15-day disabled list with left rotator cuff tendinitis before their game against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Reliever T.J. Beam was promoted from Triple-A Indianapolis to fill the roster spot.
Dumatrait, a left-hander, was 3-4 with a 4.66 ERA but had been Pittsburgh’s most consistent starter since joining the rotation May 2. But the 26-year-old’s two previous starts were his worst of the season. He allowed 14 runs in 10 innings.