As expected, Ramirez picks up option with Cubs

There was little drama in the Cubs' announcement of Thursday that third baseman Aramis Ramirez will be back for 2011.

Ramirez, who had an off-year this season, exercised the $14.6 million option on his contract. He had the right to declare himself a free agent.

The 32-year-old Ramirez battled various injuries this year and got off to a horrible start, batting .152 in April and .153 in May. He finished with a hitting line of .241/.294/.452 with 25 home runs and 83 RBI. Ramirez reaffirmed to reporters during the final weekend of the season that he would be back.

The Cubs also outrighted the contract of oft-injured reliever Angel Guzman off the 40-man roster. Guzman, who turns 29 on Dec. 14, did not pitch at all this season because of right-shoulder surgery. In 2008, he underwent reconstructive surgery on his right elbow.

Guzman will be back in spring training with the Cubs as a nonroster invitee after signing a minor-league contract. He made his major-league debut in 2006. In 88 big-league games, 14 starts, he is 3-10 with a 4.82 ERA. The Cubs had been counting on him as a late-inning setup man for 2010, but the shoulder injury derailed those plans early.