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Report: No winter ball for Manny Ramirez after all

Manny Ramirez

In this photo taken April 6, 2011, Tampa Bay Rays’ Manny Ramirez watches from the dugout during a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in St. Petersburg, Fla. Ramirez has notified Major League Baseball that he is retiring after being notified of an issue under MLB’s drug policy. The commissioner’s office issued a statement Friday, APril 8, 2011, that said Ramirez decided to retire rather than go through MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)

AP

Earlier today, we found out that Manny Ramirez intends to follow through with his plans to play winter ball in his native Dominican Republic. Now we find out it’s probably not going to happen after all.

According to ESPN.com, Ramirez will have to drop his plans because of his suspension for failing a drug test earlier this year. Ramirez opted to retire from MLB rather than serve his 100-game suspension, but because the Dominican winter league is connected to MLB, he will not be allowed to play there.

An MLB official confirmed that since Ramirez has unresolved MLB drug-program violations and the Dominican winter league is affiliated with MLB, commissioner Bud Selig’s office considers him ineligible to play in the league.

According to the report, Ramirez could only play for an independent team unaffiliated with Major League Baseball. Long Island Ducks, anyone?

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