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Ramirez, Sox agree to four-year extension

During his first three seasons with the White Sox, Alexei Ramirez hasn’t exactly come storming out of the gates.

Obviously uncomfortable in the chilly climate that typically accompanies the first month season, Ramirez has a career .200 average in April compared to .303 over the final five months.

“Somebody wrote me and said in the last week of spring training, fill his pockets with ice,” general manager Kenny Williams said of fixing Ramirez’ slow starts.

While he’s been slow to get it going, Ramirez has managed to establish himself as the best all-around shortstop in the American League.

As a result, the 29-year-old Cuba native is soon going to be lining his pockets with money more reflective of his skills.

The Nuevo Herald reported Ramirez and the White Sox have agreed to a four-year, $32.5 million extension with a club option for $10 million on a fifth season.

On Monday night, a source told the Daily Herald the deal is not officially done yet.

Initially scheduled to make $1.1 million is 2011, Ramirez opted out on Dec. 1 and a week later, the Sox exercised their $2.75 million option on the shortstop.

That is still going to be Ramirez’ salary this season. The four-year, $32.5 million extension begins in 2012 and if the option is picked up, Ramirez will be in a White Sox uniform through the 2016 season.

That should be uplifting news for Sox fans, considering Ramirez is coming off a stellar year.

En route to winning his first Silver Slugger award, Ramirez led all American League shortstops in batting average (.282), home runs (18), slugging percentage (.431) and total bases (252) while finishing second with 70 RBI.

Ramirez also led all AL shortstops with a +10.1 UZR/150 defensive rating and should have won the Gold Glove, which wound up going to the Yankees’ Derek Jeter.