To the pen!

Erasmo Ramirez had his best season as a major league pitcher last year. Combining his nasty strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3/1 and the low ERA he posted, Ramirez looked to be an up-and-coming stud and main cog in the Rays’ rotation.

But no! Off to the bullpen you go, says Rays manager Kevin Cash, types Roger Mooney of the Tampa Tribune.

With eight off days during the first seven weeks of the season, the Rays will not need a full five-man rotation until mid-May. With Ramirez out of options, he became the obvious choice to pitch in relief.

But Rays manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday that Ramirez will not bide his time in the bullpen until he’s needed in the rotation. The abdominal surgery that will sideline closer Brad Boxberger until at least the middle of May created more of a relief role for Ramirez.

“He’s going to the bullpen to get big outs,” Cash said.

Other than that, Cash was vague about how Ramirez would be used. But with the closer role up in the air because of Boxberger’s injury, the door is open for someone to shut the door on opposing teams in the late innings.

That’s the luxury of having arms, which the Rays have.