Aramis Ramirez wants to remain a Chicago Cub. On one condition: "I want to keep playing with the Chicago Cubs for a long time," the AP quotes Ramirez as saying. "But for that to happen they have to sign me on before training ends, for at least four years and for a fair price."

The Cubs recently signed Ramirez, to a one-year, $8.95 million deal to avoid arbitration, though with the understanding that the parties would work on a multi-year deal.

Aramis told the AP his terms: "An agreement for four years that pays between $10 million an $13 million per season would be adequate." Those numbers would be in line with Adrian Beltre's five-year, $64 million deal with the Mariners and Troy Glaus's $45 million, four-year contract with the Diamondbacks this offseason. Ramirez will only be 27 this year, so four years appears quite reasonable, and the dollar figures are fine if Ramirez can maintain the .306 EqA he posted last year.

But how about the ultimatum Ramirez appears to give? "For that to happen they have to sign me on before training ends." I have little doubt that the Cubs will sign Ramirez to a long-term deal, and do so before the season starts. There's no reason to go off putting out ultimatums.