Nationals avoid arbitration with Wilson Ramos (Davis and Hill outrighted to Syracuse)

By Josh Land

Nationals

January 13, 2016, 9:26am

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The Nationals avoided arbitration with catcher Wilson Ramos, agreeing to terms on a reported salary of $5.35 million in 2016.

Ramos, 28, is entering the final year of his contract with Washington. Injuries limited Ramos to a combined total of 191 games played from 2012-2014. But Ramos avoided the disabled list last season, starting a career-high 123 games behind the plate.

Wilson Ramos bat white close.png Despite his durability, Ramos experienced one of his toughest seasons offensively. His .229 batting average, .258 on-base percentage and .358 slugging percentage were all career lows. Ramos also grounded into 16 double plays and struck out 101 times in 504 plate appearances. He did finish with 68 RBIs, second highest among National League catchers.

Ramos isn't typically thought of as one of the better defensive catchers in the league, but in 2015, he tied for the major league lead with the Blue Jays' Russell Martin by throwing out 44 percent (24 of 54) potential basestealers. Ramos also tied for first with Giants catcher Buster Posey in defensive runs saved (nine), according to FanGraphs.com, and ranked second behind Posey with an 8.6 SABR defensive index. He was recognized as a finalist for a Gold Glove Award, but lost to Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina.

Ramos also set history in 2015, becoming the first ever to catch three no-hitters in a 162-game span. He was behind the plate for Jordan Zimmermann's season-ending masterpiece in 2014 and was Max Scherzer's batterymate for both hitless gems last season.

Jose Lobaton, Ramos' backup, avoided arbitration by agreeing to terms earlier this offseason. The Nationals have four remaining players - Stephen Strasburg, Anthony Rendon, Danny Espinosa and Ben Revere - who filed for arbitration on Tuesday.

Update: Right-handers Erik Davis and Taylor Hill have been outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse. Both relievers were designated for assignment last week. The Nationals have extended invitations to major league spring training to both pitchers.