MLB Free Agents 2012: Manny Ramirez's Best Option Won't Be in MLB

Manny Ramirez, the disgraced former World Series MVP, has been reinstated to Major League Baseball after filing papers to come out of retirement. He may think that he still has the goods to make a difference, but he will likely find that work is hard to come by with only 30 teams available. 

It is entirely possible that Ramirez understands that and decides to look elsewhere for an opportunity to play baseball in 2012. 

In an interview with Enrique Rojas of ESPN.com, Ramirez does his best to convince everyone—scouts, fans, analysts, et al.—that he is in the best shape of his life and will be able to get a major league contract. 

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"If a scout comes by and sees me, sees the shape that I'm in, I can get a big league contract, but the doors are open," he said regarding the possibility of finding himself forced to accept a minor league deal with no guarantees.

"It took me three years to reach ideal conditioning again. In 2009 due to the suspension, in Chicago, in Tampa, my mechanics were off. Physically I was doing well, but not mentally. Baseball is a mental game. You can have a car with 1,000 horsepower, but if you don't have someone who can drive it, forget it," the 39-year-old veteran said. "I am awaiting an opportunity," he noted.

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I hate to be the one to break it to Ramirez, but he has worn out his welcome with every team in Major League Baseball. He still has to serve a 50-game suspension, hasn't played an actual game in eight months and will be 40 years old next May. 

The best chance that Ramirez has to play baseball again will be to take his talents overseas to Japan. They will be able to pay him good money, give him an opportunity to re-establish some value and he won't have to sit out 50 games. 

I don't begrudge Ramirez for wanting to play baseball again, and if some team wants to take a chance on him, so be it. But the odds are stacked against him and he will have to swallow what little pride he has left if he wants to play baseball.

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