Manny Ramirez is quite the character. In his prime, he might have been the most feared slugger in baseball, even in the Steroid Era. That being said, Ramirez has tested positive for performance enhancing drugs multiple times and will have to serve a 50-game suspension should he make his return to the big leagues.
Ramirez is reportedly looking to make a comeback and has shrunk his list of potential suitors down to three teams: the Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays.
"Baltimore, Toronto and Oakland have shown interest in giving an opportunity for Manny to return," a source told ESPNDeportes.com. "And he is close to making a decision."
Ramirez, 39, is the author of 555 career home runs and a .312 batting average over 19 season.
While no offers have been made, a report indicates that "Oakland would guarantee more opportunities" than the Orioles or Blue Jays.
At this stage of his career Manny would bring more baggage along with him than most would like, but he could provide a boost to ticket sales and potentially even merchandise sales should he perform well. Again, though, do the Athletics really want to bring a cancer upon their clubhouse when they're set on rebuilding? I'm not so sure.
For more on the A's and to discuss the possibility of signing Ramirez, head on over to Athletics Nation.