SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- Chicago White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez is being sued for $20 million for allegedly violating a contract he signed with local talent scouts before inking a major league contract.
In documents presented to the prosecutors office in the Peravia judicial district southeast of the Dominican capital, Ramirez and his agent Jaime Torres are alleged to owe Julio Martinez and Ramon Fernandez $450,000 from a signing bonus.
The plaintiffs are also asking for an additional $131,156, which represents 5 percent of Ramirez's income from two years in the majors, the documents say. The $20 million claim is for damages and violating the contract.
"A contract exists and they have not honored paying 30 percent of the signing bonus, and 5 percent of his income as a professional baseball player," Manuel Valdez, the lawyer for the plaintiff, said Thursday.
Ramirez left Cuba in September of 2007 and settled in the Dominican Republic, and he agreed to a $4.75 million, four-year contract with the White Sox through the 2011 season.
"This is absurd," Torres said. "Mr. Julio Martinez and Ramon Fernandez know well the laws they have violated. We're going to leave it to the courts to decide, and that's all we are going to say."
Ramirez won an Olympic gold medal with the Cuban baseball team in 2004, and was a member of the team that finished second in the 2006 World Baseball Classic.
Attempts to reach Ramirez's lawyer in the Dominican Republic, Jesus Mercedes, were unsuccessful.
A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.
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