MLB has another seasoned veteran out on the market.
Manny Ramirez asked to be released by the Oakland Athletics a few days after fellow Dominican, Vladimir Guerrero, asked to be released by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Similar to Guerrero, Ramirez was doing a good job in the minor leagues, but there was no space in their major league lineup for the slugger.
He hit .302 with 14 RBI. Manny also had an on-base percentage of .348.
Everybody heard about his 0-4 debut with Oakland's Triple-A affiliate, but after he began hitting, Ramirez faded into the background.
Now that he finds himself out of baseball again, chances are that Manny will have to retire.
Who else would pick up the controversial, formally-doping slugger?
He will probaly remain jobless, unless a team's designated hitter goes down, but that role can be filled by anybody already in the club.
When Billy Beane is able to sign a ballplayer, it is usually because nobody else wants him.
People are still trying to figure out how he landed Yoenis Cespedes.
The money sounds right, especially from an Oakland organization. The slugger was lured to play 3,000 miles away from home. He is also playing in a team that will not compete in a while, especially with the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels being in their division.
Manny Ramirez served two 50-game suspensions for using performance enhancing drugs and probably will not get into the Hall of Fame.
Manny returned this season a changed man and has mentioned God in every opportunity he gets to talk to the press.
"I'll be waiting for that call and if God believes (playing) is the best for me, then it'll happen. If not, I'll understand," said Ramirez after being released.
It looks like he will finish his career with a .312 average, 555 homeruns, 1,831 RBI.
Excellent numbers that will forever be tainted.
