Tampa Bay Rays

The career numbers are staggering.

.312 batting average (87^th all-time)

555 homeruns (14^th all-time)

1,831 RBI (18^th all-time)

2,574 hits (82^nd all-time)

547 doubles (24^th all-time)

1,544 runs (56^th all-time)

1,329 walks (36^th all-time)

4,826 total bases (26^th all-time)

.411 on-base percentage (32^nd all-time)

.585 slugging percentage (9^th all-time)

Manny Ramirez made his fair share of mistakes in the outfield and in the media. If only it had stopped there.

History will remember Manuel Aristides (Onelcida) Ramirez as follows:

"He wasn't the 'best' slugger of the Steroid/PED Era - but he was the last of them."

A-Rod's juicing days have been over for a few years. Although other marginal players struggling to get to or stay in the big show will continue to try and cheat the system, there are simply no "good" juicing dinosaurs left playing.

Now that Manny has evaded capture, that is.

There will not be a Chicago reunion tonight for Manny Ramirez, who played for the White Sox in the final two months of last season. He decided to retire after he reportedly tested positive for steroids.

Ramirez will face criticism for bailing out on the Rays and being busted for steroids.

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Manny Ramirez officially announced his retirement from Major League Baseball on April 8 after an outstanding 19-year career, for much of which he was considered to be the best right-handed hitter in the game.

In the wake of the news of the sudden and sad departure from Major League Baseball by Manny Ramirez, there will no doubt be many articles, op-ed pieces and columns regarding Ramirez and his place in baseball history.

Former Boston Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez, who helped lead the team to World Series victories in 2004 and 2007, has abruptly retired from Major League Baseball after what appears to be another failed drug test.

MLB released the following statement:

After being notified of a drug violation by MLB, Manny Ramirez sent notice of his retirement to the league office on Friday, as reported The New York Times.

The Rays announced earlier this week that Ramirez had left the team to attend to a personal matter.

An announcement from the league office reads as follows: 

According to USA Today, Manny Ramirez has made the shocking decision to file retirement papers. A statement was released earlier today by Major League Baseball.

Ramirez struggled last season and had just one hit in 17 at-bats this year, but it still seems as if he has the ability to be a professional baseball player.

In a shocking development for major league baseball today, 19-year veteran Manny Ramirez has announced his retirement from the game. The outfielder was in his first season with the Tampa Bay Rays, and it will be a big loss for Joe Maddon's club in a tough AL East division.