Manny Ramirez, despite his faults, is an excellent player who deserves recognition for the things he has done well. Though the Manny Ramirez career story is far from perfect, and many doubt whether or not he will ever play in the MLB again, he did at one time enjoy great success. Ramirez, an outfielder, has some of the most impressive batting skills the baseball world has ever seen, and he’s won several awards to prove it. These include nine Silver Slugger awards and being only one of twenty-five players to have over 500 home runs throughout his sports career. He also has twenty-one grand slams to his name, and has been a player in several All-Star games.
Manny Ramirez and his trouble with the MLB world started back in 2003. This is when the player was found to be using performance enhancing drugs. It is important to note that Ramirez was not the only one to fall prey to this vice; one hundred and four other players also tested positive for drug use. Then, the punishment was a mere slap on the wrist. Apparently, that wasn’t harsh enough for Ramirez to get his act together, because he wound up in trouble again in 2009. He was given a fifty game suspension for taking human chorionic gonadotropin, which he was likely using to regain the body’s natural testosterone making capabilities, damaged by years of steroid abuse. Two years later, the player would again violate drug policy and abruptly retire from the baseball world. He did this as an alternative to facing a one hundred game suspension. Then, last year, he was reinstated, though he must serve a fifty game suspension once signed.
So, will anyone in the MLB world have faith that Ramirez has overcome his demons and sign him? At this point, the odds are fifty-fifty. One good thing that Ramirez has going for him is that he could likely be signed very cheaply, and he doesn’t appear picky—not that he can afford to be at this point—about who signs him. He just wants to play again. Unfortunately, Ramirez is aging, and that could hurt his chances of being signed somewhat. One thing is for sure, however. If Ramirez does get signed once more, he had better step up and keep his nose clean. If awarded another chance, it will certainly be his last.
