Skip to content

Brewers' Ramirez says 2015 will likely be final year

Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Aramis Ramirez is preparing for his final season in the majors.

Ramirez, a three-time All-Star, will likely retire following the 2015 season, he said at training camp Friday. The 17-year veteran is in the option year of a three-year, $36-million contract signed in 2012. He'll make $14 million this season.

"I don't want a multiyear deal," Ramirez told reporters. "I'm going to play this year, and probably be done after this year. I don't know if I want to play after this year. I think this is it. I had a nice career, and I think enough is enough."

The Dominican native remains one of the top performers at his position when healthy, posting the fourth-highest slugging percentage and OPS among third basemen over the last three seasons. 

Ramirez began his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, who signed him as an amateur free agent in 1994. He spent six seasons in Pittsburgh before establishing himself as one of the game's top power-hitting third basemen with the Chicago Cubs

Ramirez averaged 35 home runs, 105 RBIs and posted a .929 OPS with the Cubs during the most productive three-year run of his career from 2004-2006.

"Sometimes you think about career numbers - if he played another 2-3 years, he's got a chance to be a Hall of Famer," said Brewers manager Ron Roenicke.

Ramirez, who hasn't appeared in more than 150 games since 2006, enjoyed a resurgence during his first year in Milwaukee, hitting a league-leading 50 doubles and finishing in the top 10 in NL MVP voting.

His 369 home runs rank 12th all-time among third basemen.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox