After career year halted by ACL tear, uncertain future for Ramos

As we transition into offseason mode here, we're reviewing each significant player on the Nationals roster. We continue today with Wilson Ramos, who enjoyed a career year that included his first-ever All-Star selection, only to have it cut short in the season's final week when he tore the ACL in his right knee.

PLAYER REVIEW: WILSON RAMOS

Age on opening day 2017: 29

How acquired: Acquired with Joe Testa from Twins for Matt Capps, July 2010

MLB service time: 6 years, 47 days

2016 salary: $5.35 million

Contract status: Free agent

2016 stats: 131 G, 523 PA, 482 AB, 58 R, 148 H, 25 2B, 0 3B, 22 HR, 80 RBI, 0 SB, 0 CS, 35 BB, 79 SO, .307 AVG, .354 OBP, .496 SLG, .850 OPS, 3.3 WAR

Quotable: "I'm very thankful the way I've been treated here. They gave me an opportunity, and I'll always be thankful for the opportunity Mike Rizzo has given me. The front office has treated me great. They've always treated me great. ... Obviously, I would enjoy staying here the rest of my career, if that was possible. I'm very grateful that I've been given this opportunity. And the way the organization has treated me, I appreciate that very much." - Wilson Ramos

2016 analysis: It's easy to forget now, but there were significant questions about Wilson Ramos entering the season. He was coming off a poor 2015 in which he hit just .229 with a .258 on-base percentage and career-worst .616 OPS.

Ramos, though, entered 2016 feeling confident about his chances after having LASIK surgery earlier in the spring. The results immediately paid off; he hit .316 in April and never looked back.

Ramos maintained a .340 batting average (second in the National League only to teammate Daniel Murphy) as late as July 4, earning the first All-Star selection of his career. And though he wasn't able to keep up quite that torrid a pace, he still finished with the highest batting average and second-highest OPS among all qualifying big league catchers.

The Nationals expected Ramos to be a key factor in the postseason, but his year came to a screeching halt with only a week to go. Jumping to catch a high throw to the plate, he landed awkwardly on his right leg and crumpled to the ground. The club's worst fears were realized the next day, when an MRI confirmed a torn ACL, the second time Ramos had suffered that major knee injury in his career. He wound up watching the National League Division Series from the dugout, limping with a brace on his knee while his teammates played on.

2017 outlook: Perhaps the Nationals' toughest question this winter was going to involve Ramos, who as a first-time free agent coming off a career year was going to be in line for a sizable contract. The two sides held some preliminary talks over the summer, but those didn't progress far.

Now Ramos becomes a free agent with his stock having plummeted again following his latest injury. The Nationals said the rehab from his surgery should take six to eight months, so that puts the start of the 2017 season in jeopardy. And there's no telling what kind of effect another leg surgery will have on the catcher as he approaches his 30s.

Ramos himself admitted he may have to look at American League clubs that can offer the opportunity to DH as well as catch. A return to Washington isn't out of the question, but the Nationals can't make a major commitment to him at this point, and as the season ended there seemed to be resignation on both sides that The Buffalo's time in D.C. as a fan and clubhouse favorite had probably come to an end.