Long-time MLB superstar Manny Ramirez officially signed a contract with the EDA Rhinos in Taiwan’s professional baseball league. Ramirez hasn’t played much baseball lately and only played in 17 games during a stint in the Oakland A’s minor league system in 2012.
Manny Ramirez was a one-of-a-kind talent as he rose to stardom with the Cleveland Indians for eight seasons. Ramirez then signed with the Boston Red Sox where he went on to win two World Series. The 12-time All-Star was named the Most Valuable Player of the World Series in 2004 when the Red Sox won their first title since 1918.
The 40-year-old will join a league that only consists of four teams and has dealt with bribery and game-fixing scandals in the past. To top it off, Ramirez will only make $25,000 a month from now until November, compared to making $22.5 million in 2004 during his prime.
Manny Ramirez’s name has been synonymous with trouble over the past few years. The slugger was suspended 50 games as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2009 for using a banned substance and again in 2011 with the Tampa Bay Rays that forced him to retire.
Ramirez filed paperwork to return to the league and serve a 50 game suspension in December of 2011 and eventually signed with the A’s in 2012. Ramirez served the suspension before hitting .302 in Triple-A. He later asked for and was granted his immediate release from the ball club.
Manny Ramirez will never play in the Major Leagues again, so signing overseas will only prolong his eventual second retirement from the game. The possibility of having a fresh start in Taiwan doesn’t make any sense, as the competition doesn’t compare, and he certainly ins’t getting any younger.
Nevertheless, Ramirez will suit up for the Rhinos and sell a few more tickets than usual around the league. Maybe he hits .350 with a few home runs or maybe he struggles for a month and retires again.
Either way, Ramirez’s new found hope isn’t going to land him a job in the Majors. Manny Ramirez officially signs with the EDA Rhinos to give it one last shot for the second time.