Dodgers and Hanley Ramirez are negotiating contract extension

Hanley Ramirez and the Dodgers are negotiating a contract extension, the shortstop confirmed during an interview in the Dominican Republic, where he and other members of the country’s World Baseball Classic were honored.

“I can’t talk about years or money, but we’re negotiating and there could be something this winter,� Ramirez said in a report published Friday by ESPN Deportes.

Ramirez is under contract for one season at $16 million.

Ramirez reiterated his wish to remain with the Dodgers for the remainder of his career, saying they gambled by acquiring him from the Miami Marlins last year.

Injuries limited Ramirez to 86 regular-season games, in which he batted .345 with 20 home runs and 57 runs batted in. Ramirez was hit by a pitch and suffered a hairline fracture in his ribs in the playoffs.

“I’m still not 100% because it needs four to six weeks of rest,� Ramirez said.

Also on Friday, the Dodgers avoided salary arbitration with three of their players, agreeing to one-year deals with left-hander Scott Elbert, outfielder Mike Baxter and catcher Drew Butera.

Elbert’s deal is for $575,000, and Baxter’s and Butera’s for $700,000 each, but they are not guaranteed.

The Dodgers have four players who remain eligible for salary arbitration: Clayton Kershaw, Kenley Jansen, A.J. Ellis and Ronald Belisario. All are expected to be tendered contracts for 2014 on Monday, which is the deadline for teams to offer deals to their arbitration-eligible players.

Elbert, Baxter and Butera were candidates to not be tendered contracts, which would have made them free agents.

Elbert, 28, underwent Tommy John surgery in June, his third elbow operation in 10 months. A former first-round pick, Elbert had a combined 2.32 earned-run average in 90 games from 2011to 2012. He is expected to miss the first half of the 2014 season.

Baxter, 28, was claimed off waivers last month from the New York Mets. He is a career .229 hitter.

Butera, 30, was acquired in a midseason trade with the Minnesota Twins. Butera, who has a career average of .181, appeared in only six major league games last season, including four with the Dodgers.

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