Manny takes his talents to Taiwan
Some men look back on their careers and know when to call it quits, and some are willing to leave the country just to prolong the inevitable. Manny Ramirez has been looking for a team to take him on in 2013, but finding no GM willing to take a chance on the zany outfielder with a history of PED use, he has signed with the EDA Rhinos in the Chinese Professional League.
It is no surprise that Manny found himself out of a job in 2013. At 41 years old, he’s facing the back end of a career that has been in a downward spiral ever since he went to the White Sox in 2010. Ramirez was tied to PED allegations and has twice been banned from major league baseball. He tried to make a comeback with the Oakland A’s in 2012, but things fell through and he was dropped off of the roster.
Ramirez remains positive and upbeat as always, expressing joy over his opportunity to play baseball outside the United States.
“It will be a new experience ,” Ramirez said. “Experience another culture where I keep doing what I love and all I’ve done in my life – playing baseball.”
With 555 career home runs, a career .312 batting average and a .411 on base percentage, Ramirez certainly makes a case for another year or two as long as he can prepare his aging body for the long season. He may not be able to patrol left field anymore, but he certainly can serve as a DH.
Perhaps Ramirez will have a decent year in the Chinese pro leagues and make another run at a comeback to the MLB. His biggest barrier was never the PED allegations or his defense. No, Manny’s greatest fault was his own personality, which often conflicted with management throughout his whole career.
Whatever happens to Ramirez you can bet he will always be “Manny being Manny,” taking all the joy and frustration that comes with it wherever he goes. If all goes well Ramirez will be in Taiwan playing in his first game on March 17, be sure to hear plenty of news about whatever he does to win the hearts and ire of the fans across the Pacific.
