A move to Taiwan? It’s just Manny being Manny

Published On March 11, 2013 | By Jill Saftel

Out of options among Major League Baseball teams, it looks like Manny Ramirez will be taking his talents to Taiwan. According to a report from ESPN, Ramirez headed out Monday and signed to play with the EDA Rhinos.

In an attempt to land an MLB gig, the 40-year-old former Red Sox played baseball in the Dominican Republic this winter, something he hadn’t done in 18 years. As a member of the Aguilas Cibaenas, Ramirez batted .298 with eight homers in 181 at-bats.

His last action within an MLB organization was last year, when he signed a minor league deal with the Oakland A’s, but became a free agent after not being called up. The slugger said last month if he didn’t have a job in the MLB by Thursday he would play for the Rhinos, and Ramirez stuck to his word.

No financial details of the agreement with the Rhinos were disclosed, but according to ESPN “a good foreign player usually earns about $12,000 per month in Taiwan.”

Following a second MLB drug policy violation in April 2011, Ramirez retired from baseball. He batted .312 with 555 homers and 1,831 RBIs in 19 MLB seasons. He played with the Red Sox from 2001 to 2008, during which he won two World Series championships. He was the 2004 World Series MVP.

The Rhinos’ season kicks off next Sunday.

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About The Author

Jill studies journalism at Northeastern University, covers Hockey East for College Hockey News and is the sports editor for The Huntington News. You can follow her on Twitter at @jillsaftel, just don't ask her to choose between hockey and baseball, it's impossible.