Manny Ramirez open to joining Toronto Blue Jays
Designated hitter and outfielder Manny Ramirez says that he is interested in joining the Toronto Blue Jays for the 2011 season.
Ramirez spent last season split between the Los Angeles Dodger and the Chicago White Sox, but is set to become a free agent in the off-season.
Ramirez says that his desire to work with new Blue Jays manager John Farrell again is what sparked his interest in the club.
“John has tremendous knowledge of the game, a very pleasant man and he trains ballplayers,” said Ramirez. “Toronto has made a great acquisition. Farrell is a manger for whom I would like to play and Toronto is a team I’ve liked since they had all those Dominican
players in the ‘80s.”
Ramirez is no longer the player that knocked 45 home runs with the Boston Red Sox in 2005. The veteran’s numbers have tailed off over the past three years and last season in 90 games he was only able to hit nine home runs.
Conversely, Ramirez is only two seasons removed from a 36 home run campaign. If the Dominican born slugger can regain those numbers it would be hard for the Jays to turn down.
Nevertheless, the club seems to be intent on growing their young players and also already have a great deal of power, hitting the most home runs in the Majors last season. Players such as Aaron Hill, Adam Lind, Vernon Wells and Jose Bautista all have the
ability to hit for power and therefore Ramirez may not be a responsible signing for general manager Alex Anthopoulos.
However, the 38-year-old still believes he can be effective.
“I still have a lot of baseball in me,” said Ramirez. “I think that I can still bat if I keep myself healthy and it is less probable to have an injury playing as a designated hitter.”
Last season playing for the Dodgers and White Sox Ramirez managed a .298 batting average, nine home runs and 42 RBIs.
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