The Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays executed a deal on Tuesday night that will send Mariners RHP Erasmo Ramirez to the Rays in exchange for LHP Mike Montgomery. Rays beat writer Marc Topkin was first to report the news of the trade.

Ramirez came into Spring Training competing for the fifth spot in Seattle's rotation. He was out of minor league options so it was do or die for Ramirez to make the Mariners' Opening Day 25-man roster. Ramirez has a shot to help the Rays out early this season as their pitching staff is hurting right now with three of their top starters likely to start the season on the DL.

Ramirez, 24, has pitched in over 200 innings at the Major League level for Seattle so experience won't be the issue. What could become a factor is the fact that he holds a 4.62 ERA in his short MLB career. With a Rays team that is beat up a little bit, Ramirez is a good candidate to make the rotation.

The Rays traded away a former first-round draft pick in Mike Montgomery. The 25-year old has yet to pitch in a Major League game, but he was once heralded as the top pitching prospect in the Royals system before he came to Tampa in the Myers/Shields trade. Last season in AAA Durham, Montgomery posted uninspiring numbers for a former top draft pick. The lefty sported a 4.29 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and a 98/48 K/BB ratio in 126 innings while in AAA. Montgomery is probably going to see his time in the bullpen from here on out.

This trade wasn't a value trade for either team. The Mariners wanted to at least get something for Ramirez who was out of minor league options which means if he didn't make the team, he would have been DFA'd. The Rays actually could press Ramirez into action right out of the gate by putting him in the back end of their rotation or in the bullpen. The Rays needed a Major League serviceable pitcher and that is what they got in Ramirez.

Montgomery is a guy that just needs to get back to what he once was as a top draft pick. He now has a new chance to do that in Seattle where the slate is clean and they could be looking for help in the bullpen from a southpaw. The southpaw battled injuries and control problems in his past, but he has touched 96-MPH on his fastball this spring as a reliever and the Mariners just wanted something in return for Ramirez. Montgomery will most likely start in AAA Tacoma.

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Josh Eastern
I live in Seattle, Washington and attend Indiana University as a journalism major. You can follow me on Twitter (@JoshEastern) and feel free to email me at [email protected] with any questions/thoughts.