Manny Ramirez’s professional baseball career isn’t over yet. The 48-year-old has signed with the Sydney Blue Sox of the Australian Baseball League, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.
Last we heard from Ramirez, he was pursuing a comeback in Taiwan in May. However, no deal ever materialized for Ramirez in the Chinese Professional Baseball League. He’ll now go to Australia in hopes of logging his first professional action since he played in the Dominican Winter League in 2014-15.
Although he’s statistically one of the greatest hitters Major League Baseball has ever seen, there’s little to no chance Ramirez will return to MLB as he approaches the age of 50. He last graced the majors in 2011 with the Rays, though he’s obviously better known for his highly successful runs with the Indians, Red Sox and Dodgers. Ramirez slashed .312/.411/.585 (153 wRC+) with 555 home runs and 66.3 fWAR in 9,774 plate appearances during his time in the bigs.
While at the Boston Zoo, he fell for a kangaroo.
Manny has now played for the Red Sox, the White Sox, and the Blue Sox. Maybe he can collect all the colors
Next he’ll sign a minors contract and get assigned to the Aqua Sox
I mean Rickey Henderson played independent ball in his 50’s just to keep playing, so short season A ball maybe isn’t that much of a stretch. I’d drive to Everett to see him play and making him a player coach would benefit the young guys coming up. Damn it now I really want this to happen. Jerry I know you are lurking on here, can you make some calls?
Wow, I completely missed his brief stint with the White Sox
And he’s still banned from baseball like the Black Sox…
What did I just read…
the best article I’ve ever clicked on here. pumped lol
No doubt he’ll win rookie of the year! Great signing.
Gonna have to get back on the juice
I wonder if the Australian league tests for it.
Don’t have to get back on it when you never quit
And don’t forget, little to no chance of getting into the HOF. Million dollar player, 10 cent head…
HOF is overrated. You can’t name half the players in it, but you can name every single one that deserves to be that isn’t though.
More accurately, $206 Million head and body.
I swear this guy is like the thing that won’t go away.
Hey take it easy on the guy. He’s just a man trying to feed himself and his family the only way he knows how.
The 200 million he collected in salary as a major leaguer wasn’t enough?
What’s a couple million more going to do? He had has chance to make a hundred million more but wasted his chances of it.
Now he will just have to pray that he can make even a million dollars, and I’m not sure that will be enough to keep his family housed and fed.
Thoughts and prayers out for this poor soul.
Crocodile Manny……
This year just keeps on giving.
these offseason leagues could be stacked with prospects this year. i saw an article on the Tuatara (Auckland’s team) talking about this potential influx. any guys who cant make the expanded AFL could go there or to some of the Caribbean offseason leagues. (Puerto Rico, Mexico, etc) should be a fun winter for baseball fans.
I’m considering buying a season pass to the Tuatara, it could be a great season!
I got season tickets, it’s a great atmosphere
Problem with the Aussie leagues is that there isn’t enough games played at the levels below it. Basically the difference between an 18 yr old Aussie and an American is thousands of at bats.
There’s talent there for sure but a kid has to come to the US to get the reps they need in order to compete.
I don’t know how it works, but let’s say some how, some way, he reappears in the majors. Even if thats just for one plate appearnce. What does that do to his Hall Of Fame clock? The latest ballot was the 4th time he appeared. Does he get reset, or will his next appearance be his 5th appearance?
my guess would be they reset it, given that way it allows him the normal 10 years once his career is officially over with. for example a guy like Jose Rijo (who is something of a related case given he got a vote, fell off the ballot, and came back) does enough during his second stint to be HoF worthy. he would deserve to get the 10 years with his new career credentials. that said, maybe they just wait ane give Ramirez the rest of his years after rather then resetting his clock if he’s still on the ballot when he comes back. just speculating but those are some situations i could see. i doubt he’s on the ballot while still playing though.
I know it won’t happen BUT… yes his HOF clock would restart! Haha — it has actually happened before though off the top of my head I can’t remember with who… want to say it was a white Sox player who returned almost 10 years later.
Minnie Miñoso?
it almost certainly is minoso.
was actually thinking dave stieb, but turns out he was only retired for 4 years before making a comeback in 1998.
It would definitely reset. The most interesting scenario would be if someone already elected to the HOF came back to play again. Pretty sure that’d be a first.
I know it’s not baseball, but I’m pretty sure Gordie Howe, Guy Lafleur, and Mario Lemieux all did that in the NHL. I may be wrong, believe me at your own risk.
Like the way you are thinking. Chelios too. Jagr.
Jim Palmer tried it. He was elected in 90 and made a comeback attempt in 91, but retired after one appearance in spring training. There was speculation it was mostly a negotiation tactic with his broadcasting job.
He’s following in the shoes of Julio Franco.
Correct.
When reached for comment, he just smiled and gave me a vegemite sandwich.
Welp, I’d rather play baseball in Australia than Taiwan. And think of the young Aussies he can mentor. Good for him.
Why do people always assume an older player makes a good mentor just because they’ve played long? This guy is a free spirit and there’s no indication he’s good tutoring others in the locker room. I wouldn’t want this clown anywhere near a good young prospect.
You’re right Polish. However, Manny was a good player and is ingrained with MLB culture which can translate into a good lesson for the kids in Australia learning the game. Plus at 48, he’s hopefully matured a bit. If I was his new manager, that’s the conversation I would have with him. He can choose to embrace the role of mentor or not.
Manny being Manny
Baseball started to explode in Australia in late 1980’s / early 1990’s.
Brisbane Bandits we’re getting 18000-20000 Per game. Great atmosphere, entertainment.
Then the league just fell off a cliff into the abyss.
Not much media coverage at all now.
I am Australian and I am obsessed with MLB.
I love what baseball does for their local communities in USA, DR, PR, Mexico, etc.
Also the stories of players origins, how far they have come to make it to the bigs. Shoe shine street kids who don’t even know their real name, small towns, etc
The stories of underdog teams like A’s, Ray’s, White Sox (haha joking) etc playing at top of their leagues.
I love baseball too, no matter where they play. I adored Manny when he played in Boston, he was an important part of a really great team, i’ll never forget 2004. I have friends in Au, and i wish they would get into baseball, along with the Footy. Unfortunately Baseball not as quick as Footy, but that’s the game, love it.
Yep! I live in Sydney and I’ll try and get some games in this season! Will be a great draw card for the game
They’re saying you guys might be playing over here after some quarantine
Who cares?
me
Fff fannclub6 You do, because you cared to comment.
Hahaha. Thanks Fred!
Manny being Manny
Depending on how the COVID-19 pandemic pans out in Australia, there’s a proposal for having the entire season based in Auckland, New Zealand – where one of the teams are based. That’s about 1.5 hours drive up the highway from me, so in my lifetime.. I may actually get to see Manny live. Wow.
Manny still being Manny. Can’t believe he’s not even 50 yrs old yet. Keep living the dream!
He should his old buddy Bartolo with him…
That would be hilarious
Over/under that he punches a kangaroo because he said ” his 2 front paws were aimed at me”
manny ( steroid)
Lives
Matter
Hard to believe 2011 was his last appearance and that he’s almost 50! Gosh I still see him has this great young hitter. Good for him for trying to keep the dream alive. All of us sure well wish we could play baseball for a living and play it forever.
I couldn’t agree more. No matter what peoples personal opinion is regarding his steroid use and how he handled himself during his career, it’s great to see a player still loving the game and trying to play at nearly 50 years old. I believe it was Palmerio trying to make a come back this offseason or last at 50 as well.
How manny chances will he get?
Jose Canseco hit a homer at age 50 in independent ball sooo