Report: Manny Ramirez to Sign with Oakland Athletics

According to a report by ESPN's Pedro Gomez on SportsCenter, Manny Ramirez is going to sign with the Oakland Athletics.

The embattled slugger, who is likely facing a 50-game drug suspension, retired five games into last season, but recently had a change of heart.

According to Jane Lee of MLB.com, Ramirez recently worked out for the A's and will likely earn a little more than the league minimum of $480,000.

After the signing of Yoenis Cespedes, A's general manager Billy Beane has shown that he's still going to put a team on the field that will compete.

With the addition of Ramirez as a designated hitter, the A's have some definite power in the middle of their lineup with Cespedes and Ramirez (after his suspension).

The biggest question mark for Ramirez is going to be if he can saddle his selfish attitude and be a team player.

With many young players on the A's roster, Ramirez is going to be viewed as a leader in the clubhouse and on the field. If he can provide that veteran leadership, then people will be calling Beane a genius...again. If not, it's not going to make much of a difference, as the A's aren't expected to compete.

Barring any rainouts or canceled games, Ramirez will be eligible to make his regular-season debut for the A's on May 30, according to the MLB.com report; he will be eligible for spring training games.

Imagine, if you will, that Ramirez (and his 555 career home runs) does become a team player and isn't as selfish as we've seen in the past—this year's A's could be the new Moneyball team for Beane. They certainly don't seem like a lock for the playoffs yet, but when you look at their lineup, it's just as exciting as the 2002 team's.

That squad still got the job done and won 103 games, after all.

Who knows what will happen with this signing? Given the low risk, it can't hurt.