White Sox decline 2016 option on contract of Alexei Ramirez

The Chicago White Sox have declined the 2016 option on the contract of shortstop Alexei Ramirez, opting instead to exercise a $1-million buyout, making Ramirez a free agent.

Ramirez, 34, batted .249 (145-583) with 33 doubles, 10 home runs, 62 RBI, 54 runs scored and 17 stolen bases over 154 games in 2015. He made 150-plus starts at shortstop for the sixth straight season.

Ramirez is a career .273 (1,272-4,656) hitter with 227 doubles, 109 home runs, 542 RBI, 563 runs scored and 135 steals over eight seasons with the White Sox after signing as a free agent out of Pinar del Rio, Cuba, on January 22, 2008.

He was an American League All-Star in 2014 and is one of four players in Sox history to win multiple Silver Slugger Awards (2010, '14), joining Frank Thomas (four), Carlton Fisk (three) and Magglio Ordonez (two).