Aramis Ramirez seals three-year, $36 million deal with Brewers

MILWAUKEE -- The Brewers have finalized a $36 million, three-year contract with free agent third baseman Aramis Ramirez, adding a much-needed big bat to their lineup.

The 33-year-old Ramirez played 149 games for the NL Central rival Chicago Cubs last year, batting .306 with 26 home runs and 93 RBIs.

Ramirez gets $6 million next year, $10 million in 2013 and $16 million in 2014, of which $6 million is deferred. There is a $14 million mutual option for 2015 with a $4 million buyout.

Ramirez's power should help the Brewers make up for the anticipated loss of first baseman Prince Fielder through free agency. Milwaukee also may be without NL MVPRyan Braun for the first 50 games of next season if he loses his appeal for testing positive for a banned substance.

Ramirez played the past eight-plus seasons with the Cubs after he was traded by Pittsburgh to Chicago in the middle of the 2003 season.

The deferred money from 2014 is due in two $3 million payments on Dec. 15 in 2017 and 2018. If the 2015 buyout money is paid, it would be owed in two $2 million payments on Dec. 15 in 2015 and 2016.