Ex-MLB star Manny Ramirez hasn't played professional baseball since 2014 when he was a player-coach for the Chicago Cubs' AAA affiliate. Now, the player is attempting to comeback after a signing a deal with Japanese Independent League team, Kochi Fighting Dogs.
The 44-year old veteran outfielder is considered as one of the best hitters of his generation. He is a two-time World Series Champion with the Boston Red Sox. He also played with the Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox and Tamba Bay Rays.
However, Ramirez's career was cut-short with his PED bans as he tested positive twice in his career. He was suspended for as many as 50 games in 2009 when he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers and he retired following a positive test in 2011.
The two-time World Champion tried to come back on several occasions as he signed with the Oakland Athletics in 2012, Chinese team EDA Rhinos and then Texas Rangers in 2014. It has all gone waste as he hasn't played an MLB game since 2011.
According to the team's official website, Manny Ramirez will bring his talents to Japan and play for the Kochi Fighting Dogs. The team plays in the Japanese Shikoku Island League Plus, which is an independent league that is different from the Nippon Baseball League.
The official statement of the club says that they were happy to announce to all the fans that they have reached an agreement with Mr. Manny Ramirez who was active in Boston Red Sox. He is likely to begin playing for the team this season but he surely gets nowhere near the MLB standards. He is also eligible to be voted in the 2017 Hall of Fame class.
Despite the admission of using PEDs in his long career, Ramirez has a chance of making it into the Hall of Fame. The report pointed out that Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds are likely getting in the next two years which means Ramirez will get inducted sometime after that.
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