SS Alexei Ramirez went 1-for-4 Monday to extend his season-best hitting streak to nine games. He is 12-for-34 (.353) during the streak.

SS Alexei Ramirez is showing some life in his bat of late, and it is because he is trying to do what some coaches don't want hitters to do: pull the ball. Manager Andy Green said Ramirez's strength, instead of using the entire field, is turning on the pitch. That was driven home in batting sessions with the Padres coaches. "He was trying to be efficient and hit the ball to right field, but he's more of a pull hitter," Green said. "Once he got on board with that, you see the results." Ramirez went 2-for-4 on Sunday.

SS Alexei Ramirez went 2-for-4 and scored a run in Monday's victory over Philadelphia, but more notable was his involvement in a controversial play in the sixth inning. The Phillies loaded the bases with none out, and pinch hitter Darin Ruf popped a ball up to short left field. Ramirez retreated as the infield fly rule was invoked by third base umpire Will Little. The ball fell behind Ramirez, however. Cesar Hernandez, the runner at third base, tagged up and scored, and Ramirez threw to third baseman Alexi Amarista, who tagged out Odubel Herrera when he attempted to advance. The Phillies challenged whether Amarista tagged Herrera, but the call was upheld by replay. "I broke on the ball," Ramirez said. "I went back. Then I saw we weren't going to catch it. It's the umpire's call, so it must be right. That play doesn't happen too often. I just picked it up and threw to third."

SS Alexei Ramirez proved over the series with the Dodgers why he ranks among the leaders at his position in turning double plays. His acrobatic catch and flip on Tuesday night was still being talked about on Wednesday. "He did it while doing the splits,'' manager Andy Green said. "One knee was going one way and the other knee was going the other way. It looked like a dance move. He just has great range around the bag and he covers a lot of ground."

SS Alexei Ramirez and the San Diego Padres finalized terms on a $4 million, one-year contract, the team announced Friday. Ramirez, 34, is scheduled to make $3 million this season, and the contract includes a $4 million mutual option for 2017 with a $1 million buyout. If Ramirez has at least 550 plate appearances in 2015, the option would jump to $4.5 million and the buyout would increase to $1.25 million. If he has at least 600 plate appearances, the option would increase to $5 million, and if he has at least 650 plate appearances, the option would rise to $5.5 million and the buyout would be $1.5 million. Ramirez was an All-Star in 2014, but his average dropped to .249 with 10 homers and 62 RBIs last season with the Chicago White Sox. The Padres needed an upgrade at the shortstop position, and they hope Ramirez returns to his 2014 form.

SS Alexei Ramirez and the Padres agreed on a one-year contract, pending a physical.Ramirez, 34, is coming off a down season in which he batted .249 with 10 homers but still rates as an upgrade for San Diego. The Padres have used 18 different shortstops since 2009. Alexi Amarista manned the position most of last season and batted .204.Ramirez spent the previous eight seasons with the White Sox and was a member of the American League All-Star team in 2014. He has a .273 career average to go with 109 homers. Ramirez's best season was in 2008 when he set career bests for average (.290), homers (21) and RBIs (77) while finishing second in AL Rookie of the Year voting behind Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria.

SS Alexei Ramirez had his $10 million option declined by the White Sox on Nov. 4, making him a free agent.He received a $1 million buyout. Ramirez's offensive numbers went down in runs (54), home runs (10), RBIs (62, stolen bases (17), batting average (.249), on-base percentage (.285) and slugging percentage (.357), while his defensive numbers remained about the same. The White Sox see SS Tim Anderson coming along, but most in the organization feel he is at least another year away. Chicago might explore the free agent market or seek a trade to address shortstop.

Ramirez is out of the lineup Sunday against the Yankees.

The White Sox have little to play for at this point in the season, so it makes sense for manager Robin Ventura to periodically rest some of his veterans down the stretch. He'll do exactly that with Ramirez, who has come through with a respectable second half for the White Sox. Still, his .285 on-base percentage on the season is quite unsightly, even if it's not necessarily reflected in his counting stats.

Ramirez is not in the lineup Monday.

It will be a rare day off for Ramirez, who will sit for the first time since Wednesday. Tyler Saladino will get the nod at shortstop in his place.

Ramirez is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the A's, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Tyler Saladino will draw another start at shortstop as Ramirez sits for the second time in four games. Ramirez is putting together his best month of the season (.327/.411/.490), but his overall numbers still leave a lot to be desired and it seems manager Robin Ventura is intent on giving Saladino more time over the final weeks.

Ramirez will sit out Sunday's game against the Twins, Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Ramirez will likely receive what's a scheduled day off Sunday after a long string of starts by the veteran. Tyler Saladino will receive the start in his place, batting second for the White Sox.

Ramirez went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer in a 6-1 victory over the Royals on Saturday.

Ramirez's dinger opened the scoring for the White Sox and traveled an impressive 410 feet to left-center field. The veteran has been virtually unstoppable at the plate so far in September, hitting a blistering .533 (8-for-15) with a homer and six RBI during the young month. He has hit safely in all four September games and boasts three consecutive multi-hit performances in that span. Ramirez also extended his career success against Danny Duffy, against whom he has now hit .333 over 21 at-bats.

Ramirez went 4-for-5 with two RBI and three runs in Friday's win over the Royals.

Ramirez has managed to make good contact and avoid strikeouts all season, he hasn't been so lucky in hitting it where the defense isn't. That luck has changed over the past 15 games, as he's hitting .363 during that span. Ramirez is still on pace for career lows in batting average and on-base percentage, but he's has been a solid contact hitter throughout his career. He's worth putting in your lineup provided his luck doesn't run out.

Ramirez is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins, Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune reports.

The 33-year-old turned in three straight multi-hit games to close August but went 0-for-3 in Tuesday's opener and is just 2-for-16 in his career against lefty Tommy Milone, Wednesday's starter for Minnesota. Ramirez will be replaced at shortstop by Tyler Saladino, who will also lead off for Chicago.

Ramirez went 2-for-4 with a walk and three runs scored in an 11-4 win over Seattle on Saturday.

This has been a bit of a down season for Ramirez who regularly closes in on 20-20 seasons. He's currently on pace for 11 homers and 20 steals and his .348 SLG will be a career low. He also has been unlucky this season to the tune of a career-low .249 BABIP. It might be the age or it might be the luck, but the simple fact is that the power is down.

Ramirez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two RBI in the White Sox's win over the Yankees on Saturday.

The home run continued Ramirez's second-half power surge. He now has four home runs since the mid-summer classic (after hitting just two before it), and he has also gone a perfect 3-for-3 on the basepaths in those 15 games. Ramirez has been one of the AL's more reliable offensive shortstops over the past few seasons, and he may be back on that track after a historically bad first half.

Ramirez was 3-for-4 with a run scored, two RBI, and a pair of stolen bases in the White Sox' win over Cleveland on Friday night.

Hitting just .234 on the season, Ramirez has joined most of his teammates in a season-long slump at the plate. The two knocked in give him just 34 on the year, but the two steals do drive his total to 13 for the season.

Ramirez is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Friday's doubleheader against the Royals.

Ramirez started the first game of Friday's doubleheader, going 0-for-3 with a walk. He will get a rest for the second contest of the day, with Tyler Saladino receiving the start in his place and batting ninth for the White Sox.

Ramirez (foot) is in the lineup for Friday's game against the Cubs, Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune reports.

X-rays came back negative, and Ramirez was only out of the lineup for one day. He may have a bit of lingering soreness but should be back to full strength by the time the All-Star break ends.

Ramirez (foot) said he wants to try to play Friday, Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Ramirez, who was held out of the lineup Thursday after fouling a ball off his foot Wednesday, underwent precautionary X-rays and the results returned negative. With no structural damage, it's certainly possible Ramirez could play Friday, though the Sox will wait to see how he feels Friday morning before making a final call.