Manny Ramirez: 6 Reasons Oakland Athletics Fans Should Hate His Signing

Manny Ramirez has signed with the Oakland Athletics, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. But even though it's a low-risk minor league invite with a maximum contract worth $500,000, A's fans should hate this signing.

There's no arguing Oakland needs help with attendance numbers. There's no arguing Ramirez won't dramatically increase those numbers.

Risk-wise, the move makes sense. Publicity-wise, the move makes sense. Entertainment-wise, it still makes sense.

It doesn't mean fans need to be happy about it.

There are many reasons A's fans shouldn't be too pleased with this signing at all.

He's a Proven Cheater

Manny Ramirez has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs three times. As in, he didn't learn from his first mistake and did it again, twice.

His first failed test came in 2003. He faced no penalty because the report came much later than the incident occurred. After his second in 2009, he served a 50-game suspension. Failing a third time (second official time), Major League Baseball handed him a 100-game suspension.

Rather than own up to anything, Ramirez instead called it quits and retired.

Obviously that didn't last long. 

He's Suspended for 50 Games

Due to his second failed test for performance-enhancing drugs, Manny Ramirez should be suspended for 100 games. Luckily for him, Major League Baseball caved and reduced it to 50.

That puts Ramirez' first game back in late May or early June. There's always the possibility he'll need time in the minors after his suspension, as well, to fully get back on track.

So late into the season, is it really worth it?

History Tells Us His Attitude Stinks

Manny Ramirez has gotten into fights with his teammates. He's pushed a traveling secretary down to the ground. The relationship between Ramirez and the Boston Red Sox eventually got so out of hand, they shipped Ramirez to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Add in the failed tests and too many "Manny being Manny" moments to count, and the Manny Ramirez headache grows even worse.

Can anyone trust he won't explode in Oakland? What will his motivation be playing for low money on a team not likely to contend?

He's 40 Years Old

By the time he hits the field in 2012, Manny Ramirez will be 40 years old.

He hasn't played baseball since April 2011. Even then, he only played in five games, batting 1-for-17.

These are less than thrilling characteristics of a "big" signing.

Is there anything left in the tank? How much can he possibly contribute?

He'll Steal at-Bats from Someone

The Oakland Athletics are clearly in a youth movement. Manny Ramirez can't play the field anymore, so he'll obviously DH.

The question is, whose at-bats is he going to take?

Chris Carter is a good candidate for DH. He has struggled in the majors so far. At this point, 2012 needs to be a make or break year for Carter. He deserves every at-bat he can get before we officially part ways should he fail.

If Yoenis Cespedes takes over center field, Coco Crisp is either taking left field or DH. If Crisp takes left, then either Seth Smith or Josh Reddick have to sit. Both of those guys should have the opportunity to DH as well.

2003 ALDS: Game 5

In 2003, the Oakland Athletics won 97 games and the AL West division.

After winning the first two games of the American League Division Series, the Red Sox promptly evened things up.

Up 1-0 heading into the top of the sixth inning of Game 5, with the winner advancing to the ALCS, Manny Ramirez deflated the hopes of every A's fan in the world.

His three-run blast put the Red Sox on top, and it was a lead they ended up holding on to.

But it went downhill from there. In 2004 Oakland finished second in the AL West. In 2005, they split up the "Big 3" of Mark Mulder, Tim Hudson and Barry Zito.

Since 2003, they've been to the playoffs one time.

Manny's arms held high, watching his dagger kill the momentum and rob the A's of their moment shouldn't be a sight fans easily forget.