With a number of teams looking to improve up the middle of the diamond, the Chicago White Sox have been receiving calls with interest in shortstop Alexei Ramirez, according to a report from Bruce Levine of CBS Chicago.
Leving notes that the New York Yankees, New York Mets, and Los Angeles Dodgers are among those with interest.
Ramirez, 33, experienced a good season for the White Sox in 2014. Despite cooling off following a torrid start to the season, he still finished with a .273/.305/.408 line with 15 home runs, 74 RBI, and 21 stolen bases through 158 games. It was a bounce back season for Ramirez, following a pair of seasons in which his power seemed to completely elude him.
Two things have long been instrumental to Ramirez’s value: durability and defense. For his career, Ramirez has averaged 153 games a season and hasn’t appeared in fewer than 158 since the 2010 season. The defensive metrics have liked Ramirez’s glove for much of his career, with FanGraphs measuring his career UZR/150 at +5.6.
With Derek Jeter‘s retirement, Ruben Tejada‘s inconsistencies and struggles, and Hanley Ramirez‘s potential departure the Yankees, Mets, and Dodgers are all expected to be in the market for a shortstop and could be options for the Cuban-born Ramirez. With just one year and $10 million remaining on his contract – with a $10 million option for 2016 ($1 million buyout) – Ramirez comes at a relative bargain for any team that might acquire him.