Though he once signed a $45 million contract with the Dodgers, slugger Manny Ramirez is now heading down to the minor league Oakland A’s team with a $500,000 deal.
In 2009, the Dominican outfielder and designated hitter signed a two-year, $45 million contract to play for the L.A. Dodgers, but in on May 7 was suspended for 50 games for violating the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program establish by Major League Baseball in 2004. Though Ramirez claimed his doctor had prescribed him a banned medication, he waived his right to challenge the suspension.
On July 3, 2009, Ramirez returned from his suspension, but less than two years later on April 8, 2011, after less-than-stellar seasons, Ramirez again tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. After he gave two separate samples for testing and both came out positive for banned substances, Ramirez chose to retire immediately.
However, not playing baseball was not sitting well with the aging ball player and in 2011 Ramirez asked to come back to the MLB. He was told that if he wished to return, he would have to serve the 100-game suspension he had been given before he chose to retire. In September, Ramirez was arrested on domestic violence charges for allegedly hitting his wife.
