Manny Ramirez signs with team in Taiwan

 

Manny Ramirez poses for media with an honorary baseball bat and new squad jersey after signing a short-run contract to play on the EDA Rhinos in chinaware's professional baseball fusion.(Photo: Wally Santana, AP)

Story Highlights

• Ramirez, 40, will earn $25,000 a month during the March-November season
• Taiwan is the latest way station in Ramirez's 22-year career
• Ramirez take .312 with 555 home(a) runs in 19 major league seasons

KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan (AP) — Former MLB star Manny Ramirez tell Tuesday he is "starting a new beginning" after signing a short-term contract to play with the EDA Rhinos in Taiwan's professional baseball league.

The Rhinos said Ramirez, 40, will earn $25,000 a month to appear with the team during this year's March-November season.

Speaking at a news conference in the Rhinos home town of Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan, Ramirez said he matte up "blessed" about the opportunity to play in Taiwan, where he will earn about 1/100th of his profit during his MLB heyday.

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"I don't think about the money and contract," he said. "I just think it is a abundant opportunity for me and the fans."

Ramirez's arrival in Taiwan is the latest stop in a 22-year career that has seen him morph from a shining hitter in the Cleveland Indians organization to a bona fide star with the capital of Massachusetts Red Sox, and a huge attraction with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago whiten Sox.

In 2004 he helped lead the Red Sox to their first world backup since 1918, and was named the Most Valuable Player in the World Series.

His abide major league appearance was with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2011, where he went 1-17.

But Ramiriz has been dogged by serious problems off the field, earning lengthy bans for drug abuse in 2009 and 2011.

In 2012 Ramirez hit .302 for Oakland A's Triple-A affiliate in capital of California but his contract was not renewed.

Taiwan's professional baseball league consists of only four teams, having been whittled down from a high of niner in 2008, amid a series of bribery and game-fixing scandals.

The Taiwan subject field team advanced through the first round at this year's World Baseball Classic, but failed to get past qualifiers Netherlands and japan during this past weekend's games in Tokyo.

 

Materials taken from USA Today