Luvofthegame
10-31-2006, 08:42 PM
Cubs' 3rd baseman exercises opt-out, files for free agency
By Paul Sullivan
Tribune staff reporter
October 31, 2006
Aramis Ramirez exercised his opt-out clause on Monday and filed for free agency, leaving $33.5 million on the table.
Whether it's simply a procedural move or an indication he intends to flee the Cubs for more money is something only Ramirez knows. "It's part of the process," Ramirez's agent, Paul Kinzer, told the Tribune. "If we don't get anything worked out [with the Cubs], he's covered."
The clause in Ramirez's contract gave him the right to opt out and become a free agent within 10 days after the end of the World Series. When he signed the contract on Opening Day of the 2005 season, Ramirez said the clause was "just an option. I don't think I'm going to exercise that. I want to be a Cub for the rest of my life."
Ramirez's stance obviously has changed. He stands to cash in as one of the most consistent run-producers on the market, along with Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Lee, and there's no doubt he'll be the top third baseman available.
General manager Jim Hendry was not surprised that Ramirez exercised the opt-out clause, forcing negotiations to continue into early November.
"We've had positive dialogue and both sides would still like to see an agreement," he said. "Hopefully, something will happen."
Kinzer insisted the Cubs remain Ramirez's first choice. They'll retain exclusive negotiating rights to him until the free-agent signing period begins on Nov. 11. But the Los Angeles Angels already have indicated that Ramirez will be their primary free-agent target, and the Dodgers are expected to join in the bidding as well.
"He knows those teams will be highly involved, and they're both good teams," Kinzer said.
Kinzer said he expects five or six "serious suitors." Houston, Philadelphia and Detroit also might show interest, along with the Angels and Dodgers.
Ramirez had a no-trade provision in the first two years of his four-year, $42 million deal, and he told the Tribune during the '06 season he did not want to be traded, no matter how bad it got for the Cubs. Three of the four years were guaranteed, and an $11 million mutual option for 2009 would have automatically kicked in if he made 270 combined starts in '07 and '08.
But now Ramirez starts from scratch, and unless he signs within the next 12 days, Hendry will have to outbid several other teams to keep him in a Cubs uniform.
When Ramirez signed the contract in Arizona before the first game of the '05 season, Kinzer called the opt-out clause a "major concession" by the Cubs. In return for the opt-out clause, the Cubs were able to keep Ramirez's average salary at $10.5 million per year, well under the $13 million per year third baseman Adrian Beltre received from Seattle in the five-year deal he signed after the '04 season. Beltre proved to be a bust and is now virtually untradeable because of his contract.
Giving players an opt-out clause is rare but not unprecedented. Slugger Albert Belle had a clause in his contract with the White Sox that allowed him to flee for Baltimore in 1999, only two years into his five-year, $55 million deal. The Sox considered themselves fortunate not to be on the hook when a degenerative hip condition brought about a premature end to Belle's career.
But Ramirez, 28, is still in his prime, and the only hesitancy any team might have in offering him a long-term deal worth millions is the nagging quadriceps injury that sidelined him for the final month of '05.
If Ramirez leaves, the Cubs will likely have to go outside the organization to get a third baseman.
Former Cub Nomar Garciaparra, who hit .303 with 20 homers and 93 RBIs with the Dodgers, is a free agent who could be displaced at first base by prospect James Loney. Garciaparra played third during Ramirez's absence in '05, and left on good terms with the Cubs.
Boston's Mike Lowell also may be on the trading block, and of course Alex Rodriguez's name is likely to surface, despite assurances from the Yankees he won't be dealt.
Hendry has expressed confidence Ramirez would stay, based on Ramirez's insistence he wanted to be a Cub for life. Kinzer insists it's premature to speculate that Ramirez's decision to exercise the opt-out clause means he's as good as gone.
"Not necessarily," he said. "We'll still be talking to Jim throughout the process. Chicago still is his No. 1 option. But if it goes that far, we'll listen to other teams."
By Paul Sullivan
Tribune staff reporter
October 31, 2006
Aramis Ramirez exercised his opt-out clause on Monday and filed for free agency, leaving $33.5 million on the table.
Whether it's simply a procedural move or an indication he intends to flee the Cubs for more money is something only Ramirez knows. "It's part of the process," Ramirez's agent, Paul Kinzer, told the Tribune. "If we don't get anything worked out [with the Cubs], he's covered."
The clause in Ramirez's contract gave him the right to opt out and become a free agent within 10 days after the end of the World Series. When he signed the contract on Opening Day of the 2005 season, Ramirez said the clause was "just an option. I don't think I'm going to exercise that. I want to be a Cub for the rest of my life."
Ramirez's stance obviously has changed. He stands to cash in as one of the most consistent run-producers on the market, along with Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Lee, and there's no doubt he'll be the top third baseman available.
General manager Jim Hendry was not surprised that Ramirez exercised the opt-out clause, forcing negotiations to continue into early November.
"We've had positive dialogue and both sides would still like to see an agreement," he said. "Hopefully, something will happen."
Kinzer insisted the Cubs remain Ramirez's first choice. They'll retain exclusive negotiating rights to him until the free-agent signing period begins on Nov. 11. But the Los Angeles Angels already have indicated that Ramirez will be their primary free-agent target, and the Dodgers are expected to join in the bidding as well.
"He knows those teams will be highly involved, and they're both good teams," Kinzer said.
Kinzer said he expects five or six "serious suitors." Houston, Philadelphia and Detroit also might show interest, along with the Angels and Dodgers.
Ramirez had a no-trade provision in the first two years of his four-year, $42 million deal, and he told the Tribune during the '06 season he did not want to be traded, no matter how bad it got for the Cubs. Three of the four years were guaranteed, and an $11 million mutual option for 2009 would have automatically kicked in if he made 270 combined starts in '07 and '08.
But now Ramirez starts from scratch, and unless he signs within the next 12 days, Hendry will have to outbid several other teams to keep him in a Cubs uniform.
When Ramirez signed the contract in Arizona before the first game of the '05 season, Kinzer called the opt-out clause a "major concession" by the Cubs. In return for the opt-out clause, the Cubs were able to keep Ramirez's average salary at $10.5 million per year, well under the $13 million per year third baseman Adrian Beltre received from Seattle in the five-year deal he signed after the '04 season. Beltre proved to be a bust and is now virtually untradeable because of his contract.
Giving players an opt-out clause is rare but not unprecedented. Slugger Albert Belle had a clause in his contract with the White Sox that allowed him to flee for Baltimore in 1999, only two years into his five-year, $55 million deal. The Sox considered themselves fortunate not to be on the hook when a degenerative hip condition brought about a premature end to Belle's career.
But Ramirez, 28, is still in his prime, and the only hesitancy any team might have in offering him a long-term deal worth millions is the nagging quadriceps injury that sidelined him for the final month of '05.
If Ramirez leaves, the Cubs will likely have to go outside the organization to get a third baseman.
Former Cub Nomar Garciaparra, who hit .303 with 20 homers and 93 RBIs with the Dodgers, is a free agent who could be displaced at first base by prospect James Loney. Garciaparra played third during Ramirez's absence in '05, and left on good terms with the Cubs.
Boston's Mike Lowell also may be on the trading block, and of course Alex Rodriguez's name is likely to surface, despite assurances from the Yankees he won't be dealt.
Hendry has expressed confidence Ramirez would stay, based on Ramirez's insistence he wanted to be a Cub for life. Kinzer insists it's premature to speculate that Ramirez's decision to exercise the opt-out clause means he's as good as gone.
"Not necessarily," he said. "We'll still be talking to Jim throughout the process. Chicago still is his No. 1 option. But if it goes that far, we'll listen to other teams."