Manny Ramirez: There's a Possibility That the Oakland Athletics Release Manny

Manny Ramirez is struggling in Triple-A Sacramento for the Oakland Athletics, and although general manager Billy Beane is not ready to release him yet, the possibility definitely exists.

Ramirez is coming off a 50-game suspension for using a banned substance and hoped to make it back to the bigs this season in Oakland.

Instead, he's done nothing but perform well below expectations.

Through 11 games, Ramirez is hitting just .243 with no extra-base hits, four RBI and 10 strikeouts. It's safe to say that the A's expected at least a little more from the 40-year-old slugger.

Throw in the fact that he hasn't even played a full game in the past week because of a left leg injury, and upper management in Oakland may already be getting fed up with Manny.

While Beane insists that he's not ready to cut Ramirez yet (via Joe Stiglich of MercuryNews.com), he also has no idea when Ramirez will be ready for a call-up.

If he keeps hitting like he is now, that might not be for a while.

The A's are eight games back in the AL West. Would bringing a productive Ramirez into the picture even change things at this point?

It's highly unlikely that Ramirez will propel the A's above the well-built Texas Rangers and surging Los Angeles Angels. He would only be taking time away from the young guys fighting for playing time.

While the A's said nothing was ever "set in stone" regarding Manny (via Stiglich), they most definitely had intentions on bringing him up if he was performing.

Well, it's time for a change of plans.