The White Sox have agreed to a four-year, $32.5MM extension with Alexei Ramirez, the team announced. The shortstop will receive $5MM in 2012, $7MM in 2013, $9.5MM in 2014 and $10MM in 2015. The club can choose between a $10MM option and a $1MM buyout for 2016. Ramirez still will earn a base salary of $2.75MM in 2011 as per the terms of his previous deal.
Ramirez is represented by Jaime Torres, who said his client would be "very willing to discuss" a multiyear extension in the wake of Chicago exercising Ramirez's 2011 option.
Ramirez, 29, hit .282/.313/.431 with 18 homers in 2010, earning his first Silver Slugger Award. The Cuban has hit 54 home runs in his three Major League seasons and showed some tremendous glovework last season, posting a +10.1 UZR/150 rating.
Jorge Ebro of the Nuevo Herald first reported the deal.
he deserve it, hes a great player!!
I like this deal a lot. He is a stellar SS who is going to be very affordable this year and the team now has cost certainty at that position.
wow this happened like 3 days ago!
Yes but they didn’t have the specifics 3 days ago, only the years and dollars.
Really like the extension. If he performs at all in April and can have close to what he was this year, he will easily be a 4-win player. And even if he were a 2.5-win player, this contract would be worth it.
Also, Ramirez is the best shortstop in the AL for what it’s worth. That’s not to say he’s a superstar, but other than Elvis Andrus no one is really close.
Considering the lack of ML SS who can play great defense and provide some pop (.280 18 HR 70 RBI), this is a great (and cheap) deal.
Ramirez at age 29 only has 3 years ML experience and could better. Plus you don’t have to worry about him eating his way off of SS.
With Ramirez, Beckham and Rios, the Sox will be set up the middle for a number of years.