Manny Ramirez’s 50-game suspension is coming to an end. On Friday, he will suit up for the Los Angeles Dodgers as they play the Padres in San Diego. It will be the first time he plays since May 6th.
Prior to being suspended due to testing positive for performance enhancing drugs, Ramirez was off to a fast start. In 27 games, Ramirez had six homers, 20 RBIs, 22 runs, nine doubles, a batting average of .348 and an on-base percentage of .492.
The 37-year-old outfielder will return to the team with the best record in all of baseball. At 50-29, the Dodgers …read more

A new website was launched that is asking baseball fans to “Vote for Manny” for the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. The website, which is available at VoteForManny.blogspot.com, is referencing Manny Ramirez, the suspended outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Despite the name of the website, Jason Rosenberg (the site’s founder), is adamant that he doesn’t want Manny Ramirez to actually play in the All-Star game. Instead, he started the website to “illustrate the joke that the voting, World Series home field advantage rule, the mandatory representation, the still-soft PED rules…has become”.
Currently, Ramirez is the fourth leading vote-getter in the …read more

Manny Ramirez, the superstar outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers who was suspended for 50 games by Major League Baseball, apologized to his teammates on Friday. Gathered with his teammates and coaches at a hotel conference room in Miami, a reportedly anxious Ramirez went around and shook each of his teammates’ hand and told the group that he was sorry.
Ramirez’s manager Joe Torre said that Ramirez was uneasy prior to the meeting.
Said Torrie: “We spent some time together before we went into the meeting room and he was a little anxious. That’s the human side of this thing. He basically …read more

According to various reports, Manny Ramirez met with Frank McCourt, the owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, recently following the announcement of Ramirez’s 50-game suspension from baseball. Depending on who you listen to, McCourt was outraged at Ramirez’s suspension and demanded to talk to the sluggers. Others close to the team insist it wasn’t so dramatic.
Either way, Ramirez being away from the team is going to help. The team had planned a lot of its marketing around Ramirez. On the field, the Dodgers were off to a great start due to his play.
The Dodgers should be able to hold their …read more

The steroids controversy continues to haunt Major League Baseball. On Thursday, baseball suspended Manny Ramirez of the Los Angeles Dodgers for 50 games after he tested positive for a banned substance. Ramirez won’t be eligible to return to the baseball field until July.
Due to his 50-game suspension, Ramirez will be forced to forfeit about one-third of his 2009 salary of $23.9M. On the season, he’s hitting .348 with six homers and 20 RBI. After winning on Thursday, the Dodgers have the best record in baseball at 21-9.
As could be expected, Ramirez denied that his positive steroid test was due to …read more

During a recent exhibition game, Manny Ramirez of the Los Angeles Dodgers aggravated a leg injury that has been bothering him as of late. Ramirez, who signed a $45 million contract earlier in the month, said he’s worried about the injury.
Right now, the plan is to see if the pain will go away. If it doesn’t, the Dodgers will perform tests to make sure there isn’t anything major wrong. At this point, Ramirez hasn’t ruled out the possibility of missing regular season games.
Ramirez got hurt in the outfield when he was playing in the field for the first time this …read more

Jonathan Papelbon, the closer for the Boston Red Sox, let his true feelings about Manny Ramirez known during a recent interview. Papelbon repeatedly classified his ex-teammate as a “cancer” who everyone was happy to see go.
Ramirez, who was traded during the middle of the 2008 season to the Los Angeles Dodgers, helped the Red Sox win two World Series championships. However, his breakup with the team didn’t go smoothly by anyone’s account.
A free agent this offseason, Ramirez ended up re-signing with the Dodgers. His contract makes it possible to become a free agent next year if he wishes. If not, …read more

After months of negotiations and constant rumors, Manny Ramirez and the Los Angeles Dodgers finally agreed to a contract. As a result, Ramirez will again be wearing Dodger blue in 2009.
The deal is valued at $45 million over two seasons. However, it’s much more complicated than it appears on the surface. First of all, Ramirez has the ability to void the second season and re-enter the free agent market again next offseason.
Another unique aspect about this contract is the amount of deferred money. Over the next two years, Ramirez would take home $10 million each year if he doesn’t void …read more

The biggest name on the free agent market is undoubtedly Manny Ramirez. Ramirez, who split last season between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers, has turned down the latest contract offer from the Dodgers.
The offer from L.A. is believed to be $45 million over two seasons. However, Ramirez’s camp feels that the offer isn’t that impressive because it calls for a portion of the salary to be deferred.
Although Ramirez is a player almost every team in baseball would love to have, the struggling economy has put a damper on free agency during the offseason. And though …read more

The Los Angeles Dodgers offered Manny Ramirez a one-year deal worth $25 million. Shortly thereafter, Ramirez rejected the deal. According to speculation, Ramirez is waiting for a long-term offer with an average salary of at least $20 million.
Ramirez, who we have rated as the best free agent in baseball, is a player who can carry a team on his back — as we saw last year with the Dodgers. After going to Los Angeles in a midseason trade with the Boston Red Sox, Ramirez hit .396 with 17 homers and 53 RBIs in 53 games.
Although Ramirez’s possible destinations are somewhat …read more