Manny Ramirez Set for Dominican Winter League

Manny Ramirez is back in the media spotlight for … wait for it… baseball related news!  It was reported yesterday that Ramirez’s former Dominican Winter League club, the Aguilas Cibaenas, expects Manny to join them for winter ball this season.

The early reports were confirmed when the president of the Aguilas, Winston Llenas, said that Ramirez is indeed set to join the club and will begin training with Cibaenas next week.

Manny last played in the Dominican Winter League in 1993-94 as a member of the same club he’s set to join this season.

Llenas is telling reporters that Ramirez is excited to “play before the Dominican fans” and wants to encourage other Major League players to join him.

Ramirez dropped hints that he may suit up for winter ball way back in April, just after announcing his retirement from MLB.  The announcement came after Manny had tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs a second time.  Already having spent 50 days on the sidelines following his original suspension, Ramirez was facing a 100 game ban after the second test came back positive.

Instead of accepting the suspension, Ramirez decided to hang em up, leaving the Tampa Bay Rays after only playing in 5 games.

Neither of the bans will keep Ramirez from playing in the Dominican.

Ramirez was back in the news earlier this month.  A domestic dispute was reported at his Florida home, and Ramirez was ultimately arrested on battery charges.  Manny’s wife told police that Ramirez had struck her in the face.  Manny had a different take on how it all went down, but the police said the injuries Ramirez’s wife sustained were more consistent with her story.

Needless to say, it’s been quite the disappointing year for someone considered to be one of the game’s greatest hitters.

So, while in the Dominican, Manny may be able to duck the media and not face penalty for his prior drug use.  But, unfortunately for the slugger, Ramirez’s tarnished reputation will always remain.