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Reports came out this week that Rays designated hitter Manny Ramirez tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug and would be suspended for 100-days. Ramirez, instead of sitting out the time, has opted to retire.
"I'm at ease," Ramirez told ESPNdeportes.com via phone from his home in Miami. "God knows what's best [for me]. I'm now an officially retired baseball player. I'll be going away on a trip to Spain with my old man."
The Rays were counting on Manny's bat and veteran know-how to help the young Rays after several key players left for bigger and better. Instead, he caused a very big, albeit brief, distraction.
"We were obviously surprised when we found out about it today and hurt by what transpired," said Rays vice president Andrew Friedman, who signed Ramirez to a $2 million, one-year contract in the offseason. "We were cautiously optimistic that he would be able to be a force for us."
Ramirez, the 13th overall pick in the 1991 MLB Draft, compiled a career .312 batting average with 555 home runs and 2,574 hits over 18 seasons with the Indians, Red Sox, Dodgers, White Sox, and Rays.