May 1: Ramirez’s agent, Hector Zepeda Jr., tells Rob Bradford of WEEI.com that since Ramirez made his interest in a comeback known, he’s already heard from one CPBL team. That club expressed interest but indicated that a signing wasn’t likely until midseason.
April 29: Longtime MLB star Manny Ramirez is well past his prime, but he may yet have another act. He tells Mark Buckton of the Taiwan Times that he’s hoping to appear again in the Chinese Professional Baseball League.
“My goal for 2020, is to find a roster spot in the CPBL,” Ramirez says. “I have been itching to get back in the batter’s box and be able to compete again.”
The CPBL is, of course, the only place in the world to catch a ballgame at the moment. Ramirez, who turns 48 at the end of May, previously starred briefly in Taiwan’s five-team league back in 2013.
The idea this time around, per Ramirez, is to function “as a player-coach.” That’s the same angle he took when he appeared at Triple-A with the Cubs in 2014. Ramirez also pursued an opportunity in Japan in 2017, but nothing came of it.
Why Taiwan? Ramirez says he has also considered the indie ball circuit — which isn’t active right now and may not be in 2020 — but prefers to cross the Pacific. “I have had a few offers for teams in the Atlantic League, but am more in favor of experiencing Taiwan and their delicious food,” he explains.
Ramirez produced and occasionally puzzled over 19 memorable MLB seasons, the last of which was a very brief 2011 showing. He launched 555 total long balls and compiled a ridiculous lifetime .312/.411/.585 batting line, making him one of the greatest hitters in the history of the game — albeit one who tarnished his career with multiple PED violations.
You’ll want to check out the interview for more on what Ramirez has been up to of late. The ever-interesting and exceptionally talented slugger speaks of helping quietly in the community and focusing on his family and Christian faith.
Good luck doing it without the roids. You ain’t the next Julio Franco.
How do you know he was doing it with roids in the first place?
You mean other then the multiple suspensions for steroids?
DUH! He got busted at least two times.
Yeah I’m a huge Red Sox fan and will always LOVE Manny — and who knows maybe he wasn’t always on steroids — particularly in the years like right after testing started in 08/09 BUT he also tested positive for steroids twice later in his career. so as much as I love Manny being Manny… he’s kind of impossible to defend on that front. But don’t get me wrong – steroids or no steroids he was clearly one of the most talented players to ever play. His hitting approach and hand eye coordination was legendary. When he was focused (which as shocking as it is to have to say about a ML hitter) he was on a level above everyone else.
He’s bad and old. Say goodbye
Wow, wonderful insight. Thanks for making such and educated comment and not making yourself sound stupid at all.
Agree. And he belongs in HOF. If admitted cheaters like Gaylord Perry and Don Sutton get in there when their cheating had an immediate impact on the game they were playing that day, then the steroids guys should also get in. Also Juan Marichal bashed a catcher over the head with his bat and he is in the Hall.
Have another swig of malt liquor.
Racists love to hate Manny because he had dreadlocks and a personality.
@toycannon – nailed it
Maybe it will be in his contract to never be tested.
Take Puig with you Manny!
Take your hatred of non-white players away from these comments sections!
Who cares about roids, all they do is help you stay healthy. Mannys batting eye is elite and HOF level and it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see him rake as a DH in Taiwan at middle age.
not Italy then?
The Unnatural
Underrated comment. Bravo
Is he going to pitch? That’s what the CPBL needs.
that seems to be the case. dont think one of their teams has a foreign playet slot alloted to a non-pitcher. Dragons might have an open spot, but they are on probation this year
I know what you mean Manny. How I feel about the food in Vietnam. Can’t get everything I enjoy here stateside.
He’s like the marshawn lynch of baseball
Teams are going to have a tough choice between signing Manny or Rafael Palmeiro…
I’m a ranger fan, and even I would pick many hands down.
Yawn
Sweet Jesus do not bite a bat.
Manny being Manny. Taiwan is a great place. The people are very nice and the food is great.
Travel secretaries are cowering though
What about assistants to the traveling secretary?
Did you put us up in the Ramada in Milwaulkee?
its assistant traveling secretary!
If they don’t have steroid testing in Taiwan, this is perfect for him.
Actually, places like Taiwan are better because it has items that aren’t detectable by any test. He no longer will have to go to an OBGyn when he thinks he’s pregnant.
In his prime on roids he could mash. But he also once cut off the cut off man which is one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen
Manny loves attention, but I appreciate his love of the game – good luck.
Saw a movie entitled Taiwan Comeback, not about baseball.
Why anyone on earth would ever want to go to China again is beyond me.
Try and educate yourself before commenting. Taiwan is not in China, it’s in Taiwan.
I do believe that the United States (which I’m sure makes up a large amount of commenters) recognizes a One China policy and don’t recognize Taiwan’s independence.
Based on how little US citizens know about the US, I can guarantee the majority don’t have a clue about foreign policies.
Be that as it may i wasn’t trying to insult anyone’s intelligence, specifically based on their Nationality or geography I was just trying to point out the hypocrisy of Sid Bream’s arrogant statement.
I will pay to watch these games
$20 he Is better then pujols
That would be an interesting bet –
– Albert is current;y 8yrs younger than Manny
– Albert is currently a better hitter than Manny and has been game-ready more recently
– Both have been masters of their craft in hitting, but are on a precipitous decline
– However, Pujols has to face MLB pitching whereas Manny has to face Taiwan pitching —> Not equal adversaries
– But all-in-all, assuming Manny gets a roster spot in Taiwan, who has better stats in their respective leagues?
Manny should totally join the KBO, it would help ratings.
Oh please.
Good for him, next I want to see Han Ram back in a MLB uniform. Make it happen!
How about Jose Bautista coming back as a reliever in the AL West.
I’ve always been a big Manny fan. He’s weird, extremely talented, and wore his emotions on his sleeve. Sounds like he’s in a good place and past his PED mistakes. It would be interesting to watch him play again.
Manny looking for a paycheck. Nothing to see here.
Believe it or not, Manny is quite frugal with his money. He likes a nice house and a nice car, but he doesn’t go out and throw his cash around like an idiot. I’m sure he has at least $100M still put away, so this is not being done for a paycheck. The guy just loves baseball and feels lost without it. While he definitely made some dumb choices in MLB that will probably keep out of the Hall of Fame, he always loved playing and coming to the ballpark. I’m sure he just misses that piece. At best, he’ll get a $250K offer in Taiwan for 1/2 a season, so money is the last thing on his mind IMO.
Then play semi-pro locally or the independent league. You don’t go overseas to play at age 48 just for the love of the game. He’s doing it for a steady paycheck.
Love him or hate him, just the mention of the name Manny Ramirez always lights up a baseball conversation.
Let’s all remember some of the key contractual components of his (failed) stint in Japanese baseball back in 2017:
1) Practice is optional
2) Manny gets a Mercedes with a full time driver to drive him around Japan whenever he wants
3) While on the road, Manny gets a suite at the hotel
4) Unlimited Sushi !!!!
#1 & #4 sum up Manny the best. How can’t you love this knucklehead? He’s just born to play baseball and he’s lost without it. Let’s hope he gets a deal done in Taiwan and gets unlimited hot pot & dumplings while both playing and managing for his new team.
Let’s go, Manny!
He’s one of the greatest hitters of all time, roids or not.
The fact that he still wants to play professionally at this age shows he loves the game more than those who hate him. Let that sink in.
By the way, PED’s didn’t help him hit at all, that was all process, IQ and timing. We need to stop being so precious about the PED era now the Astros completely blew the ceiling off of what “cheating” in baseball is, period, end of story.
Put Bonds, Manny, Sosa, McGwire and Clemens in the HOF, they dominated the game, they deserve to be in. A-Rod too. They were all much, much better than Harold Baines. This is just pathetic at this point.
PEDs keep a player healthy, according to you. Yet there seem to be more injuries despite players still using and some admitted users had a tough time staying healthy. Interesting.
PEDs stands for performance enhancing drugs. It helps performance. Warning track turns into wallscrapers, four hoppers turn into hot shot singles, gap singles into doubles….ah wait never mind. I’m talking to a baseball beginner.