Aramis Ramirez 2015 mutual option to be exercised by Brewers, per report

As the option is mutual, Ramirez does have the ability to decline his side and test the free agent waters. If he does so, he’d be passing on his $14 million salary with the Brewers, which is actually a step down from his 2014 salary of $16 million. The decision was a $10 million one for Milwaukee, though, as declining its side of the option would have incurred a $4 million buyout.

Ramirez had contemplated retirement earlier in the year, but decided over the summer that he wasn’t quite ready to hang up his spikes, telling the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel’s Tom Haudricourt in July:

“I’m going to go for 2,500 (games) so let’s see what happens, I’m only 36; I’ll be OK. I’m playing past this year, for sure. I don’t know how much longer but definitely more years. I’ll see where I’m at after the season but I feel good right now. Health is the main thing. My body is telling me I can still play.”

As for reading the tea leaves as to what Ramirez will do with his side of the option, it’s worth noting his reverence for the culture in Milwaukee, in that same article:

“My family likes it here. I’ve played a long time. We live an hour and a half away from here, so that helps. It’s a good place to play.”

While injuries have plagued Ramirez throughout his career, he’ll have averaged more than 120 games over his three seasons in Milwaukee, while turning in a combined slash line of .294/.356/.490. That’s good for a 846 OPS, and while his 2014 OPS rests at 788 -- an obvious decline -- it still is comfortably better than league average (702 for batters, 716 for third baseman) thanks to a continuing league-wide offensive decline.