Alexei Ramirez Opts Out Of $1.1MM Salary

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [December 1 at 10:51am CST]

Alexei Ramirez opted out of his $1.1MM salary for 2011 and will go to arbitration with the White Sox unless the team exercises a $2.5MM option within a week, according to Dave van Dyck of the Chicago Tribune. The shortstop had until today to decline a set $1.1MM salary for next year. The White Sox now have a week to choose between their $2.5MM option and taking the 2010 Silver Slugger winner to arbitration.

 

Ramirez batted .282/.313/.431 with 18 homers, 29 doubles and 13 steals in 626 plate appearances last year. In three big league seasons, all with the White Sox, the Cuba native has a .283/.321/.430 batting line. Ramirez, 29, would be “very willing to discuss” a multiyear extension, agent Jaime Torres told van Dyck.

What would be a good contract extension for him? He's worth at least $2.5 million a year. 3/$10 million?

They should accept the $2.5 mil team option for next year as it's a steal, and then sign him to a multi year deal next year.

 

EDIT: Merkin says it's a $2.75 mil team option and Sox have until Dec 15th to accept.

Edited December 1, 201015 yr by justBLAZE

If Alexei can keep getting better he's worth a ton of money.

His defense alone make him extremely valuable. Add to that the good BA and decent power, he's worth a lot to the Sox.

Arguably a top-5 offensive and defensive SS in baseball who is still young. Probably worth on the open market $10 million a year. Look at what Uribe got. Alexei is way better.

Arguably a top-5 offensive and defensive SS in baseball who is still young. Probably worth on the open market $10 million a year. Look at what Uribe got. Alexei is way better.

 

Well, looking at how Tulo and Uribe cashed in, and what Reyes and the other Ramirez make, I would offer Alexei 3/15 next year and it might be low balling.

It's worth noting in terms of an extension that after this year, Alexei still has 2 more arbitration eligible years. The first he'd probably come in at about $5 million-ish, the second, probably closer to $8, give or take a couple on each side. That's roughly a $15 million-ish commitment for the next 3 years if they just go through arbitration.

 

If the Sox went to him and offered something on the order of 4/$22-$25, I think they might be in the right range to buy out his first year of FA.

Spend some of Konerko's $ right here. Strong up-the-middle.

Well, looking at how Tulo and Uribe cashed in, and what Reyes and the other Ramirez make, I would offer Alexei 3/15 next year and it might be low balling.

How many more years do the Sox have exclusivity with him? They could give him a major raise this year and get some of the FA years sealed

 

and Balta answered a few posts up!

Edited December 1, 201015 yr by SoxFan562004

Tulo, Uribe, and Tejada are really going to drive Alexei's price up. Damn.

What would be a good contract extension for him? He's worth at least $2.5 million a year. 3/$10 million?

A multi-year contract extension for Alexei Ramirez would cost well more than that.

 

Accept the 2.5 for this year and get him extended prior to the end of 2011. That's a no-brainer.

 

He's one of KW's greatest moves of many.

Arguably a top-5 offensive and defensive SS in baseball who is still young. Probably worth on the open market $10 million a year. Look at what Uribe got. Alexei is way better.

People say this often, but he did turn 29 in September (it's easy to forget that he was 26 when we signed him). He's still worth multiple years, of course. Assuming we sign him to the 2.5 (which we will), then you'd be looking at an extension that ends when he's 34-35. (much like the Uribe contract)

Offer an extension and with that money maybe he can buy a giant OVER-SIZED freezer in which to take BP in and get used to cold weather.

 

I've never seen such a great player be so useless in April and finish the year with those kinds of numbers still haha

Sounds like they want to try to get an extension done before they accept the option. There is zero chance at going to arbit

Sounds like they want to try to get an extension done before they accept the option. There is zero chance at going to arbit

Given Uribe is making 7 mill per over 3, I don't see how they work out an extension right now. Take the 2.5.

Let's not screw things up though KW. Don't get too samrt for your own good when dealing with our quality young players. Sign him long term and get him locked up.

Given Uribe is making 7 mill per over 3, I don't see how they work out an extension right now. Take the 2.5.

Alexei has a large motivation here to get a 3-4 year extension done; he guarantees himself a salary if he gets hurt. From this point on...he plays for 1 year contracts for the next 3 years until he hits FA if he doesn't sign something. That's a pretty risky position for a 29 year old player to be in, esp. since he's only earned about $7 million or so on this first contract.

Sign him to an extension. He's a perennial 4 WAR player given his defense and his good power for a SS.

Why would they want Alexei??? They obviously want Jeter....

Decline the option, let him walk.

Decline the option, let him walk.

 

Oh come on, we know Alexei doesn't walk!!

They're exercising the option apparently...

 

http://twitter.com/SI_JonHeyman/status/10059812385591296

They're exercising the option apparently...

 

http://twitter.com/SI_JonHeyman/status/10059812385591296

Yeah, that didn't take long.

Apparently Ken Rosenthal doesn't think that highly of Alexei, or at least isn't in his top 7 SS in baseball.

 

http://mlbbuzz.yardbarker.com/blog/mlbbuzz...8?new_post=true