Jose Ramirez

After being acquired via trade from the Mariners, Ramirez found himself on the Braves' 2016 Opening Day roster. Entering the season, the righty had only thrown 17.2 big league innings, in which he'd surrendered a hefty 17 earned runs. He did not fare much better in his 2016 debut and was demoted to Triple-A Gwinnett a week into the season after allowing six earned runs in his first two innings of relief. Ramirez rebounded in Triple-A, as he fanned more than a batter per inning over 41.1 frames. His solid performance earned him a promotion in late July. The 26-year-old rattled off a 2.05 ERA and punched out 8.51 per nine innings in 31 appearances over the final two months of the season. He finished the year with a nice 23.1 percent strikeout rate, but command remained an issue, as he posted a 12.6 percent walk rate. If Ramirez makes the big league club in 2017, he'll likely be utilized in a similar role and does not project to provide much fantasy value unless he surpasses several options ahead of him for save chances.

Ramirez landed in Seattle last season as part of the trade that sent failed prospect Dustin Ackley to the Yankees. He didn't show much in his few major-league opportunities with New York or Seattle last season. Ramirez seemingly has a good arsenal of a mid-90s fastball, slider and changeup, but he has struggled with control most of his minor-league career. A starter early in his career, he's now a replaceable right-handed bullpen arm, which makes it no surprise the Yankees traded him for a spare part with the Mariners following suit in December, sending him to Atlanta for nothing more than a player to be named and cash. He's out of minor league options, so if he doesn't make the Atlanta bullpen out of spring training, he'll be looking for a new team.

Ramirez received a brief taste of the big leagues last season, but was tagged to the tune of a 5.40 ERA in 10 innings. The greatest hurdle he currently faces is lowering his walk rate, which has been above 6.0 BB/9 since his arrival to Triple-A in 2013. A back injury slowed Ramirez during spring training, but the Yankees seemed to sour on him as a starter, as he pitched exclusively out of the bullpen in 2014. Now 25, a shift back to a starting role isn't out of the question, but Ramirez has a mid-90s fastball, slider and changeup that he can utilize as a reliever, which could make him an asset in the late innings if the control comes around. Walks were not an overwhelming concern for Ramirez earlier in his development, so there's certainly reason to be optimistic, but he'll likely return to Triple-A to begin 2015 with the hope of becoming a fixture in manager Joe Girardi's bullpen by the end of the season.

Ramirez looked dominant in eight starts in Double-A in 2013, but struggled a bit upon his move to Triple-A, posting a 4.88 ERA in 31 innings. Ramirez has big velocity on his fastball, but it comes in fairly flat, and he can struggle with his command. His changeup is an out pitch, but he needs to improve his breaking ball if he's going to project as more than a reliever. Ramirez will get another shot in 2014 to establish himself as a rotation candidate, and if the Yankees can improve his mechanics and his command, Ramirez could be in line for a breakout 2014, but that will likely begin – and may entirely take place – at Triple-A.