Agent: Ramirez to play third for Brewers
MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers agreed to terms with free-agent third baseman Aramis Ramirez on Monday, agent Paul Kinzer told The Associated Press.
Ramirez will provide a much-needed big bat for the Brewers, who are expected to lose first baseman Prince Fielder through free agency and may be without NL MVP Ryan Braun for the first 50 games of next season if he loses his appeal for testing positive for a banned substance.
The 33-year-old Ramirez played 149 games for the NL Central rival Cubs this year, batting .306 with 26 home runs and 93 RBI. He played the past eight-plus seasons with the Cubs after he was traded by Pittsburgh in the middle of the 2003 season.
Kinzer said Ramirez expects the Brewers to be a contender next season, a critical factor in his decision.
“That was one of his criteria,” Kinzer said. “There were about four teams that he liked that were contenders, and Milwaukee was at the top of his list.”
Kinzer said Ramirez also likes the idea of playing indoors at Miller Park early in the season.
His deal is subject to a successful physical.
Later Monday, the Brewers traded third baseman Casey McGehee to the Pittsburgh Pirates for reliever Jose Veras.
McGehee had a strong rookie season in 2009 and a big year in 2010 but then slumped at the plate in 2011 and lost his starting job to Jerry Hairston Jr. late in the season.
McGehee batted .223 with 13 homers and 67 RBI for the NL Central champions, a year after hitting .285 with 23 home runs and 104 RBI. Veras was 2-4 with a 3.80 ERA and 1 save in a career-high 79 appearances last season for Pittsburgh.
Bringing back Hairston was no longer an option for the Brewers after he signed a $6 million, two-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Getting more production from third base will be even more critical for the Brewers next season, especially if they lose Fielder and are without Braun for a significant chunk of the season.
On Saturday, Braun's representatives issued a statement maintaining his innocence. Braun's appeal is expected to be held in January. Major League Baseball is 12-0 in defending drug suspensions in arbitration.
The Brewers also finalized their one-year contract with free-agent shortstop Alex Gonzalez, a deal that includes an option for 2013 that could become guaranteed.
“Alex brings to our ballclub a veteran presence who has experienced winning in the postseason,” general manager Doug Melvin said in a statement. “He is a plus defender who will be a welcome addition to our infield.”
The 34-year-old Gonzalez batted .241 with 15 home runs and 56 RBI in 149 games with Atlanta last season. He made 146 starts at shortstop and had a .981 fielding percentage, which ranked third in the NL and fifth in the majors at his position.
Gonzalez is expected to replace last year's regular shortstop, Yuniesky Betancourt, who is a free agent.