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White Sox Decline Option on SS Ramirez

 width=The White Sox have declined a $10 million option on shortstop Alexei Ramirez and owe the former All-Star a $1 million buyout.

The 34-year-old Ramirez has played his entire career with Chicago after leaving Cuba and is a .273 hitter with 109 homers and 542 RBIs in eight seasons. He was an AL All-Star in 2014 but batted a career-low .249 this year with 10 homers and 62 RBIs.

Chicago could re-sign Ramirez as a free agent or give playing time to Tyler Saladino, a solid fielder with a questionable bat. Shortstop Tim Anderson, among the team's top prospects, hit .312 at Double-A Birmingham this year.

The White Sox also selected the contract of left-handed pitcher Zach Phillips from Triple-A Charlotte, where he went 1-1 with a 3.13 ERA and 12 saves in 46 relief appearances this year. He is 0-1 with a 3.45 ERA in 19 relief appearances with Baltimore (2011-12) and Miami (2013). He was signed by the White Sox last December.

>>Royals' Gordon Declines $12.5-Million Option

As expected, Royals left fielder Alex Gordon declined his player option for 2016 on Wednesday, the team announced. He is now a free agent.

Gordon, 31, turned down a $12.5 million salary next season, though he should top that easily in free agency. A four- or five-year deal worth $15 million annually should be within reach, possibly more since the game is flush with money.

This past season was the final guaranteed year on the four-year, $37.5 million contract extension Gordon signed prior to the 2012 season. He was the longest tenured player on the 2015 World Series champs.

Gordon hit .271/.377/.432 (120 OPS+) with 13 home runs in 104 games this season. He missed time with a significant groin strain. From 2012-14, Gordon hit .276/.349/.436 (115 OPS+) with 53 home runs. He also won three Gold Gloves.

Even at age 31, Gordon should be a very popular free agent, especially among the teams that can't afford the top outfield free agents like Jason Heyward, Yoenis Cespedes and Justin Upton.

Free agents are free to begin negotiating and signing with new teams at 12:01 a.m. ET Saturday.

>>Dodgers Ace Greinke Opts Out of Contract, To Become Free Agent

Starting pitcher Zack Greinke signed a six-year, $147 million deal with the Dodgers prior to the 2013 season, but the deal included an opt-out clause for Greinke after the first three years of the deal.

Given that Greinke will be a top two finisher in the NL Cy Young vote this season, it's a no-brainer for him to opt out. Jon Heyman reported here a few weeks ago that he would and Wednesday Greinke did opt for free agency.

There were three years and $71 million left on his contract, but given the state of baseball in free agency in this day and age, Greinke's going to blow that figure out of the water this winter, especially with several major players in the market for starting pitching (such as the Dodgers, Red Sox, Cubs, Yankees, Tigers, Giants and more).

Greinke, 32, was 19-3 with a 1.66 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 200 strikeouts in 222 2/3 innings in the regular season. In two postseason starts, he struck out 17 and walked one, but did allow five runs on 11 hits in 13 2/3 innings.

Greinke's top-shelf pitching competition in free agency includes David Price, Johnny Cueto and Jordan Zimmermann.

>>Dodgers Interviewing Kirk Gibson For Manager

The Dodgers have interviewed former World Series hero Kirk Gibson for their managerial vacancy, reports Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times. The interview took place last week.

Gibson played parts of 17 seasons in the big leagues, including three with the Dodgers. In Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, Gibson hit a pinch-hit walk-off home run with two injured legs against Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley. It's one of the most famous home runs in baseball history:

Gibson, who was named NL MVP that year, was dealing with a left hamstring strain and a swollen right knee and was not expected to play Game 1 at all.

The 58-year-old Gibson managed the Diamondbacks from 2010-14. The team went 353-375 (.485) under his watch. Gibson spent last season broadcasting for Fox Sports Detroit, covering the Tigers.

Gibson was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease earlier this year. He is able to manage the condition through medication and other treatment.

The Dodgers and manager Don Mattingly parted ways after the season. Gibson is one of the several managerial candidates the team has interviewed. Gabe Kapler, Bud Black, Bob Geren, Darin Erstad and Dave Roberts are among the others.

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