Manny Ramirez Wants Back In The Big Leagues

Former All Star slugger Manny Ramirez saw his career cut short in the early goings last season when he abruptly retired in April following a second failed drug test for PEDs which rather than face a 100-game suspension for his second offense. On paper Ramirez has a sterling career resume with a .312 career average to go along with his 555 HRs and more than 1,800 RBIs. Ramirez will be filing for reinstatement next season with the hope of reducing the suspension he would have to serve down to 50 games. For some reason Manny thinks this will show teams how he's changed since last year.

Ramirez put together a sure-fire Hall of Fame career from 1993-2008 playing for the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox. Manny hit more than 500 HRs for the two teams and was a key factor in Boston's two World Series victories in 2004 and 2007. However thanks to a slew of events including altercations with fellow Red Sock Kevin Youkilis and 64-year old team traveling secretary Jack McCormick, Ramirez was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the deadline in 2008. After going to the Dodgers he would have a torrid finish to the year being named the NL player of the month for August and leading the Dodgers to the playoffs. However in 2009 it was reported that Ramirez failed a test for PEDs and was forced to sit out 50 games. Ramirez struggled in '09 after the suspension and ended up losing his starting job the next summer after multiple stints on the DL. Manny was let go by the Dodgers in August of 2010 and was picked up off waivers by the Chicago White Sox where he flopped noticeably during the 24 appearances he made for the team, hitting only a single round-tripper. Ramirez signed with the Tampa Bay Rays to begin the 2011 season, however, after his aforementioned second positive test he retired from baseball less than 2 weeks into the year. During this time it was also revealed that Ramirez tested positive during the 2003 survey taken by the MLB before instituting their current drug-suspension policy.

Manny was a 12-time All Star and 9-time Silver Slugger who at one point posted 9 straight seasons of at least 30 HRs and 100 RBIs. His 21 career Grand Slams are 3rd all time and he ranks in the top-20 in most of the significant offensive categories. Given the treatment Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro have received from the Hall of Fame it can be said with a fair amount certainty thay Manny will not be elected when he becomes eligible 5 years after his retirement. The 39-year old Ramirez had hoped to play this winter in the Dominican League but was refused by Major League Baseball because of its affiliation with the Dominican League, a move which prompted Ramirez's application for reinstatement. In my mind it is unlikely that a team will sign Ramirez because little can be expected of him, especially with the Spring Training distractions that are likely to accompany him. He would have to sit out a minimum of 50 games and possibly 100 if he chooses to return to baseball and no one knows at what level he could play considering much of his prolific production of the years can be attributed to PEDs in light of those 3 failed drug tests. Ramirez was also arrested this past September on a charge of domestic battery although that charge was later dropped.