Washington Nationals: Grading Mike Rizzo’s 10 biggest trades
By Brian Foley
2010 with Minnesota
Wilson Ramos and Joe Testa for Matt Capps
The Capps move was textbook for the rebuilding Nationals. Rizzo signed him to a bargain deal in January, watched him pitch his way to the All-Star game, and then flipped him for Ramos, a blue-chipper on the Nationals’ timeline. Ramos made it to the majors for Washington that September, and he grabbed the starting job the following spring. Ultimately, injuries prevented Ramos from reaching his peak, but he was an above-average talent when healthy.
Ramos did grab an All-Star spot last summer during his wonderful 2016 campaign. Almost fittingly, however, his Nationals career ended when he tore his ACL right before the start of the postseason. He signed a pillow contract with Tampa Bay in the offseason.
This trade went about as poorly as possible for Minnesota. Capps helped the Twins to the AL Central title in 2010, but he fell off over the next two seasons, and has not pitched in the majors since 2012. The Twins believed Ramos was expendable because Joe Mauer had a vice grip on the catcher spot for the remainder of his mammoth contract. Instead, Mauer’s injuries forced him out from behind the dish and over to first base where his bat is much less valuable.