Ramirez to Stick Around

Aramis Ramirez is in his eighth season as a Chicago Cub.  And it won't be his last.  Ramirez exercised his $14.6 million player option to play for the Cubs in 2011.  His contract allowed him to void his 5-year, $75 million contract that he signed before 2007 and become a free agent this upcoming offseason, but he decided to stay.  "I'm staying here," he told the Chicago Sun-Times.  "It won't be very long.  I miss a lot when I'm away from my family.  I have 12 years in the league.  I don't know how long I'm going to play, but it won't be very long."
This kind of attitude is kind of bad to hear.  I can understand that he wants to be with his family, but this is his job.  He has to commit to the contract he signed and although technically he doesn't have to stay, the team needs him.  He should sign it and be happy about it, instead of acting like he was forced into it.  He has always been kind of a quiet guy, and he has been criticized before about his lack of leadership.
The Cubs have a club option on him for 2012, worth $16 million.  If the Cubs pick up the option, he can buy out with a $2 million penalty.  Ramirez is batting .242 with 22 homers and 73 RBI in 109 games this season.

The numbers to be concerned about are that Aramis has proven his worth over the years, although it may be time for him to go.  Ramirez has hit 210 HR and 703 RBI, while batting .294 in those eight years as a Cub.  He couldn't come through in the playoffs and was partly blamed for the Cubs' downfall in 2007 and 2008, going a combined 2-for-23 with two walks.  Aramis and first baseman Derrek Lee formed one of the best corner infield power dous in the National League primarily in 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2008.

Aramis Ramirez could be a valuable part of a rebuilding team in 2011.  Could be.  Ramirez will need to realize he is on his way out on the Cubs, and not on his time.  He could be dealt at the deadline next season, there are plenty of teams that could use his bat.  This will probably depend on how good the Cubs are in 2011, as the core of the Cubs from the late 2000s of Derrek Lee, Ryan Theriot, Mike Fontenot, Ted Lilly, Alfonso Soriano, Kosuke Fukudome, and Ramirez is being dismantled in favor of a new brand of Cubs baseball.