Manny Ramirez is refusing to give up his Major League Baseball comeback bid just yet.
Big-league scouts that went to watch Ramirez participate in a baseball workout recently said he “looked impressive,” according to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman, and the 41-year-old former All-Star has remained in contact with a handful of ball clubs about a possible minor-league deal.
Per Heyman:
Ramirez, who is pushed by workout partner Miguel Tejada, another former big-league star who works out with him, continues to aim to return to the big leagues. There’s been some contact with big-league teams about a possible minor-league deal (one hope of his with the Orioles recently didn’t pan out), as well as some others from Japan. To this point, though, there’s been no worthy offer.
Ramirez will turn 42 at the end of May and is one PED strike away from receiving a lifetime ban from MLB. Last year, he hit .259 with three home runs and 13 RBI in 30 games with the Texas Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate Round Rock. Playing in Taiwan, he batted .352 with eight home runs in 49 games.
A few American League teams have either been keeping tabs or have maintained a dialogue with Ramirez, per the report. He came close to signing with the Baltimore Orioles, where former Boston Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette is now holds the same position.
But the chance of landing with the O’s is unlikely at this point.
Heyman names the Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, and Los Angeles Angels as potential landing spots. Though the extent of those teams’ interest remains unknown, they may be willing to take a chance on a veteran designated-hitter. Ramirez believes he can fill the same kind of role that Jason Giambi had last season with the Cleveland Indians — a part-time hitter.
The Angels already have a 40-plus-year-old slugger in the clubhouse in Raul Ibanez, who is batting only .146. Ramirez could be an upgrade.
Ramirez is presented by the team of Alex Esteban and Alex Gonzalez. Esteban told CBS Sports most talks centered around Ramirez have been with American League teams, but a couple of National League have shown interest as well. Esteban declined to name any teams.
Ramirez last played in the Majors back in 2011 at the age of 39 with the Tampa Bay Rays before he retired instead of facing a suspension for violating the league’s PED use policy.
