Manny Ramirez to Hold Workouts for MLB Teams
By Editorial Staff
Earlier this offseason it was announced that Major League Baseball had reinstated Manny Ramirez. It was hard enough for Manny to find a gig before signing a one-year deal with the Rays last season, so it was no surprise to hear Ramirez was calling teams himself requesting work this offseason. Now, Buster Olney of ESPN is reporting that Ramirez “plans to work out for teams later this month” as he continues his search for a deal with a major league club.
The Manny Ramirez saga is well-known by now.
Manny tests positive for PED’s with the Dodgers, becomes a shell of his former self, signs on with the Rays, cheats again, retires, abuses his wife, thinks about joining the Dominican Winter League and finally un-retires.
At this point, Major League Baseball has agreed to reduce Ramirez’s 100-game ban to only a 50-game suspension. Ramirez has elected to take this less severe penalty and hopes to catch on with a new club by the spring.
The trouble for Manny is, even without the ban, he’d have a hard time finding a new club. This guy carries a ridiculous amount of baggage, plus he’s 39, plus he just hasn’t been that good of late.
After Ramirez was picked up off waivers by the White Sox in the late summer of 2010, he only managed an OPS of .739 over 24 games and 88 plate appearances. Then, in his forgettable five games with the Rays last season, Ramirez only mustered one hit over his 17 PA’s.
Teams will get to see what Manny has left when he holds workouts later this month. It’s hard to imagine him getting more than an invite to spring training, if that, as few teams are looking for a designated hitter and there are still several options more appealing than Manny remaining on the market.
You can check out all of the available free agents by position below.