C-Ram Traded!

Associated Press - In a stunning move the Pawtucket Polythene trade perennial All-Star and 7 time Cy Young king Christopher Ramirez to the Charlotte Knights for first baseman Johnnie West, minor league relief pitcher Wilt Green, and minor league pitcher Geraldo Quinones.

Ramirez’s dominance over the last 8 seasons has been nothing short of spectacular. In a feat we may never see the like of again, C-Ram was able to win a shocking 7 of 8 NL Cy Young awards for perennial powerhouse Pawtucket. His career numbers are simply astounding. 181 wins with only 68 losses, an astonishing 84 complete games, along with a miniscule .214 Opponent Batting Average, 1.05 WHIP, and a sparkling 2.69 ERA.

For Charlotte, adding a pitcher of Ramirez’s stature to an already dangerous team makes them an early frontrunner for a championship and demonstrates General Manager dawgfan1974’s willingness to go for broke. The move leaves a bit of a hole at first base for Charlotte, but look for them to call up Dave Starr from AAA, or reach into the Free Agent pool to bring in a solid bat as a replacement. The only serious order of business left for the Knights is the decision in center field. All signs point to All Star Ramiro Gabriel’s intention to find out his worth on the free agent market. If the Knights can convince him to resign, or bring in another fielder of Gabriel’s caliber, then it could be a banner year for the Queen City.

In Pawtucket, meanwhile, it’s a time of mourning for the Ramheads. But, while Ramirez’s exit would leave an irreplaceable hole in any organization, the Polythene seem comfortable handing over the primary pitching duties to Stan Jenner and newly resigned Joaquin Beltre. West’s bat at first base should be an upgrade over the aging Ramon Jang (who will almost assuredly be traded), and their bullpen remains one of the league’s best even with the loss of set-up man Brad O’Toole. Even after the current moves, Pawtucket should remain in the hunt for the division, and as we saw last year, once you get to the dance, anything can happen.