Manager Joe Maddon wants Ramirez to be available as both a starting pitcher or reliever once the season arrives. The 31-year-old started eight games for Triple-A Salt Lake in 2019, posting a 6.59 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 26 strikeouts across 41 innings. With teammate Griffin Canning heading for an MRI on Friday, it is possible that Ramirez could tackle a few starts earlier in the season while the Angels wait for their ace Shohei Ohtani to return to the mound around mid-May.

In his return to the big leagues following Tommy John surgery last season, Ramirez exhibited a significantly scaled-down fastball, averaging only 91.0 mph on his four-seamer, per Statcast. If he is able to sustain the velocity he reportedly flashed over the winter, it would mark a return to his 2017 level. During that season, Ramirez averaged 95.6 mph on both his sinker and four-seam fastball, though the end result was an unimpressive 16.9 K%.

Ramirez endured a tough 2019 season as he worked his way back from Tommy John surgery. He labored through his rehab outings, finishing the year with a 6.56 ERA in 48 minor-league innings while making just five appearances at the major-league level. If he does re-establish himself in the big leagues this season, don't expect too much, as he owns a career 4.71 ERA at the highest level.

Ramirez has posted a 4.50 ERA and 1.12 WHIP with four strikeouts over eight innings since being reinstated from the injured list July 30, but he'll head to the minors following Thursday's roster move. He'll have the option of either accepting an assignment with the Bees or becoming a free agent.