AJ Ramos Traded from Marlins to Mets for Merandy Gonzalez, Ricardo Cespedes

With little hope of reaching the playoffs this season, the Miami Marlins are firm sellers ahead of the non-waiver trade deadline, and they cashed in on one of their trade chips, officially sending AJ Ramos to the New York Mets for prospects Merandy Gonzalez and Ricardo Cespedes.

MLB Network's Ken Rosenthal first reported the Mets were acquiring Ramos from the Marlins. 

Ramos has put together a strong 2017 season so far. In 40 appearances, he has 20 saves with a 3.63 ERA and 3.91 FIP, according to Baseball-Reference.com. He's also averaging 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings.

While the 30-year-old is still under team control for one more season, his departure from Miami was a matter of when—not if—before the deadline. The Marlins are 13.5 games back of the National League East-leading Washington Nationals, and it's doubtful they'll be any closer to contention in 2018.

A talented reliever is far more of a luxury than a necessity for a team that's under .500.

In addition, Ramos represents a bullpen upgrade that comes at a more reasonable cost than the relievers at the top end of the trade market, increasing the likelihood he'd be on the move.

This time last year, the Chicago Cubs traded top prospect Gleyber Torres to acquire Aroldis Chapman, and the Cleveland Indians sent Clint Frazier and Justus Sheffield to the New York Yankees for Andrew Miller. While Ramos had 72 saves over the past two seasons, the Marlins weren't in a position to ask anywhere near that much in return for the right-hander.

Ramos likely won't make the same kind of impact Chapman and Miller did during the 2016 stretch run, but he's a proven veteran who gives New York value beyond just the second half of 2017.

The Mets are an odd fit for Ramos simply because they are faring worse than the Marlins with a 47-53 record. 

Current Mets closer Addison Reed has been mentioned in trade rumors leading up to the non-waiver deadline on July 31. The addition of Ramos could afford the bullpen some stability for the rest of this season and in 2018 if Reed gets dealt. 

MLB.com's Joe Frisaro reported most of the teams that showed interest in Ramos viewed him as a setup man rather than a closer, so his days as a ninth-inning option may be over for the time being.

Miller, however, demonstrated how important it can be to have a reliever upon whom you can rely in the middle innings of games, especially when it comes to the postseason.

Whatever his ultimate role, Ramos offers Mets manager Terry Collins more flexibility in the critical junctures of close games.