The Manny Ramirez experiment is over.
The Texas Rangers have released the 41-year-old slugger, who was attempting a major league comeback after playing professionally in Taiwan.
“Based on our evaluation, there was not a spot for Manny on the club at this time,” Rangers general manager Jon Daniels told reporters Tuesday (via MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan). “We released him so he could pursue other opportunities if he so chooses.”
Ramirez never had the chance to suit up for the Rangers, instead playing 22 games for the team’s Triple-A affiliate in Round Rock. He failed to turn heads with the Express, posting a .259/.328/.370 slash line with three home runs and 13 RBIs in 119 plate appearances.
This release likely shuts the door on the career of one of the most feared power hitters of the last two decades. During his 19-year career, Ramirez was named to 12 All-Star Games and racked up nine consecutive 30-homer, 100-RBI seasons. He currently ranks 14th all-time in home runs (555), 18th in RBIs (1,831), ninth in OPS (0.996) and first in postseason homers (29).
