The Giants’ 2010 reunification campaign continues, as right-handed reliever Ramon Ramirez signed a one-year minor league deal with San Francisco after a brief stint with the New York Mets. The 31-year-old reliever returns to San Francisco after being traded alongside Andres Torres for Angel Pagan in 2012. As reported in December, Torres also returns to the Giants with a 1-year, $2 million dollar deal to provide some depth in the outfield.

So. If we’re going to balance the proverbial baseball checkbook, we basically got Angel Pagan for free. And Angel Pagan gave the world free tacos so I’m pretty sure that has to be the best trade we ever made. Well except for the Zack Wheeler for Carlos Beltran trade. Oh. Wait…

Ramirez was an instrumental piece of the 2010 bullpen, recording a 0.67 ERA in 25 relief appearances down the stretch in that key season. He had a solid 2011 as well, with an ERA of 2.62 in 66 appearances. That year he also plunked Shane Victorino, which led to radio talk show host (and Phillies fan) Tony Bruno calling Ramirez an “illegal alien” (and deleting that tweet, yet getting suspended anyway) and Eli Whiteside doing this:

For those who are wondering, Whiteside — who has been signed off waivers so far this offseason by the Yankees, Blue Jays and Rangers — has not returned to the Giants. Yet.

Ramirez struggled a bit with the Mets. He allowed 13 more baserunners than he did in 2011 in 5 fewer innings, his ERA rose to 4.24, and hit the DL after straining his hamstring celebrating Johan Santana’s no-hitter.

Let’s hope the Giants inspire something in their former reliever and we see the awesome Ramon Ramirez instead of the “womp-womp” Ramon Ramirez. I guess we’ll find out soon since PITCHERS AND CATCHERS REPORT IN ONE WEEK. Who’s excited?