MLB Free Agency: Manny Ramirez Is a Steal for the Oakland Athletics

Manny is back and could be a great steal for the Oakland Athletics.

Ramirez signed a minor league deal with Oakland that will give him a chance to serve out his 50-game suspension while helping mentor young outfielder Yoenis Cespedes and providing some power to the Athletics' lineup.

It's true: no one really knows what Manny has left.  He was awful in his 2010 stint with the Chicago White Sox and was then suspended by Major League Baseball early last season when he violated the drug rules for the third time.  It was "Manny being Manny" in the worst way.

Yet this signing is a steal for Oakland because they can't lose.  The Athletics will only pay Ramirez $500,000 or less, which is essentially the minimum salary for a major league player.  If he doesn't show some of his old skills or tests positive for performance-enhancers (again!), they can just cut him.

Ramirez will be 40 years old when he plays for Oakland.  But he was such an exceptional player, he may have some hitting left.  Ramirez is a 12-time All-Star who is 14th on the all-time list with 555 home runs. He still has a smooth hitting stroke and the skills to contribute to a major league team.

But, more importantly, he can help mentor the Athletics' young power hitters.  Oakland has several young and developing hitters who could really use some on-the-diamond tutoring from an all-time great like Ramirez.  Manny was always a thinking hitter, which makes him ideally suited to the role.  

Those hitters include Cris Carter, Kala Ka'aihue, Brandon Allen, Daric Barton and newcomer Yoenis Cespedes.  The Cuban Cespedes is the best talent, but each could become a middle-of-the-order hitter. 

So, if Manny can help with that, he is one of the best steals of the offseason.