In eight games for the Triple-A Round Rock Express, Manny Ramirez has done just about everything within his power to show that he deserves another look in the big leagues. Unfortunately, Ramirez’s best may not be good enough.
In those eight games, the 41-year-old outfielder/designated hitter has hit three home runs while slugging an even .600 with a .964 OPS. However, the reason that the Texas Rangers signed Ramirez in the first place was for insurance at the DH slot. The problem for Ramirez is that incumbent DH Lance Berkman is expected back from the disabled list next week, which means there’s no room for the former Indians, Red Sox and Dodgers slugger in Texas.
In fact, the Rangers have no immediate plans to do anything with Ramirez other than leave him at Triple-A, and will not call him up after the All-Star break as some had speculated, according to MLB.com.
So, you may not be seeing Ramirez in the big leagues any time soon. Texas has had good luck in recent seasons getting decent production from past-their-prime sluggers (see: Berkman, Valdimir Guerrero, Sammy Sosa), but this time around the Rangers may have more qualified veteran DHs than they have room for on the big-league roster.
