CHICAGO (AP) - Shortstop Alexei Ramirez and the Chicago White Sox have finalized a new contract that adds $32.5 million over four years through 2015.
Chicago exercised Ramirez’s $2.75 million option for 2011 in December. The agreement announced Thursday adds salaries of $5 million in 2012, $7 million in 2013, $9.5 million in 2014 and $10 million in 2015. The White Sox have a $10 million option for 2016 with a $1-million buyout.
The 29-year-old hit .282 with eight homers and 70 RBIs in 156 games with Chicago last season, becoming the first shortstop in White Sox history to win the Silver Slugger Award. He led AL shortstops in average, slugging percentage (.431), homers and total bases (252), and he ranked second in RBIs.
In three seasons with the White Sox, the native of Pinar del Rio, Cuba, has batted .283 with 54 homers and 215 RBIs.
Chicago also agreed to a minor league contract with outfielder Lastings Milledge.
Milledge hit a career-high .277 with four homers and 34 RBIs in 113 games with the Pirates last season. He is a career .269 hitter in five big league seasons with the Mets, Nationals and Pirates.
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