CHICAGO – Juan Uribe and the White Sox agreed Wednesday to a $4.5 million, one-year contract that keeps the slick-fielding shortstop in Chicago.

Although he ranked second among AL shortstops in home runs (20) and fielding percentage (.976) this year, Uribe had a difficult season.

He batted just .234 with a paltry .284 on-base percentage, 34 walks and 112 strikeouts. He also had 18 doubles and 68 RBIs in 150 games.

“He catches the baseball, not to mention that he’s only one of four shortstops to drive in 70 runs the last four years. It’s not insignificant,” Chicago general manager Ken Williams said at the GM meetings in Orlando, Fla.

The White Sox had until Wednesday to decide whether to exercise their $5 million option on Uribe’s contract for next season.

If they had declined it, he could have become a free agent.

Instead, the sides reached a new deal for 2008.

Since 2005, Uribe is second among AL shortstops in fielding percentage (.976), third in home runs (57) and sixth in RBIs (210).

He also owns the best fielding percentage at his position in White Sox history with a .977 mark, just ahead of Bucky Dent (.975) and current manager Ozzie Guillen (.974).

Uribe has hit .251 with 80 homers, 100 doubles and 284 RBIs in four seasons with Chicago.