QUEENS, NY — The New York Mets have quietly secured one of the more intriguing upside signings of the early offseason, inking former Los Angeles Dodgers prospect Jose Ramos to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training. After six seasons navigating the notoriously deep Dodgers farm system without a call-up, the young Panamanian outfielder is ready to prove himself with a new organization.
Ramos’s move is a classic case of a highly talented player hitting a developmental logjam in one organization and seeking opportunity elsewhere. The 24-year-old still possesses the star potential scouts have long raved about, particularly following his hot streak in Triple-A last season.
The Dodgers Logjam: Why Ramos Left
Ramos, who was once ranked as a Top 30 prospect in the Dodgers’ system (peaking at No. 14 in 2022), elected minor league free agency on November 6 after the Dodgers declined to add him to their 40-man roster.
- Elite Production: In his 44 games with Triple-A Oklahoma City in 2025, Ramos was red-hot, posting an impressive $.295$ batting average with a massive $.916$ OPS and 8 home runs. He finished the season on a tear, slashing $.339/.371/.695$ over his final 16 games.
- The Power Calling Card: His calling card has always been raw power, demonstrated by numerous tape-measure home runs that circulated online.
- The Barrier: Despite the impressive Triple-A numbers, Ramos struggled with strikeout rates that remained well above the Major League average (whiffing 30.5% of the time in Triple-A). Ultimately, with the Dodgers’ surplus of elite, versatile outfielders (and the need to protect other prospects), Ramos was deemed expendable.
The Opportunity in Queens
The Mets present a perfect change-of-scenery opportunity for Ramos to finally showcase his talent at the Major League level.
- Outfield Void: The Mets recently created an immediate outfield void by trading veteran Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers, meaning the team is actively seeking depth and high-upside options.
- New Voices: A new developmental environment under President of Baseball Operations David Stearns gives Ramos a fresh set of eyes and a chance to tackle his plate discipline issues with new hitting coaches.
The minor league deal is a low-risk, high-reward move for the Mets. If Ramos can maintain the contact improvements he showed late in 2025 and continue to mash, he has a legitimate shot at breaking camp with the Mets or being an early call-up.
