Update: Major League Baseball has reinstated Manny Ramirez according to Buster Olney. Ramirez will have to serve a 50-game suspension if he makes a Major League roster. I still have my doubts as to whether or not Ramirez will find Major League work in 2012.

The Baltimore Orioles still remain a possibility. That’s my opinion.

Original Post, 12/5/2011: According to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com, his sources have confirmed that Manny Ramirez will apply for reinstatement into Major League Baseball and attempt a comeback. If you don’t remember, Ramirez retired five games into the 2011 season as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays after he was suspended 100 games by Major League Baseball for failing a drug test.

Ramirez wants to play again

Since Ramirez never really served his 100-game suspension last season, Morosi mentions that the players’ union and MLB will  compromise on a 50-game suspension for Ramirez to start the season. The players’ union argues that Ramirez essentially served his suspension because he forfeited his salary. A couple of thoughts on this…

1. The suspension will start as soon as a team signs Ramirez and he is on a roster come Opening Day, but at 39-years-old and a shell of his former self, I am not sure what the actual market is for Manny. Over his last 105 plate appearances, Ramirez is hitting just .160/.240/.189 with one HR and just one extra-base hit.

He really can no longer turn on a great fastball, which teams have now realized. Opposing pitchers threw Manny fastballs 85 percent of the time in 2011. In no season prior, did Ramirez see more than 66 percent fastballs.

Manny is no longer the guy who strikes fear in opposing pitchers. His name outweighs his production.

2. I think the best Manny can hope for is a non-roster invite in spring training. No team is going to guarantee Manny a roster spot with all the baggage he has.

Maybe a like the Baltimore Orioles (Dan Duquette connection) or the Toronto Blue Jays will take a shot at him, but other than that, the market seems to be pretty slim.

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