The Yankees made only a modest splash at the trade deadline, but one of their two offensive additions is already looking like a useful piece. Luis Garcia Jr. has chipped in right away, even going deep in his debut with the AL East club.
Heliot Ramos, though, has not found that same rhythm.
Since arriving from the San Francisco Giants, the 26-year-old All-Star has stumbled through his first stretch in pinstripes. After a pinch-hit groundout Thursday against the Seattle Mariners, Ramos is 4-for-25 with 10 strikeouts in his first eight games with the Yankees. He takes a .701 OPS into Friday’s series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays.
That matters because Ramos does not bring much value with the glove in left field. For now, the Yankees need his bat to carry the load if he’s going to function as an everyday player while Cody Bellinger is sidelined.
Still, the club is unlikely to cut bait quickly. Ramos has three more seasons of team control beyond 2026, and New York paid a real price to get him, parting with left-hander Henry Lalane and shortstop Kaeden Kent in the deal.
There is at least a path for Boone to keep him in the mix once Bellinger returns from the IL and Aaron Judge remains out. He could pair Ramos with Spencer Jones in right field and work a platoon.
But Jones is making a stronger case for regular playing time. Ramos, at least right now, is not.
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The issue has been especially noticeable when pitchers challenge him in the zone, because four-seam fastballs have become a growing problem and opponents have clearly taken notice. Chisholm has acknowledged the downturn, but he has not been able to tie it to anything obvious in his swing or body, leaving the Yankees with a concern that is as puzzling as it is timely. [Read more 🡒]