Manny Ramirez signs to play professional baseball in Taiwan

Manny Ramirez -- once the king of Mannywood with the Dodgers -- announced Tuesday that he has signed a short-term contract to play baseball in Taiwan.

According to the former baseball superstar, he is “starting a new beginning” by joining the EDA Rhinos.

Or, one might say, he’s beginning a new start.

See, we can do that now. We can pick on Ramirez now that he’s no longer the flashy, big-time slugger that once made more than $20-million a year at the peak of his career.

He’s now a 40-year-old has-been who was suspended twice toward the end of his MLB career for using banned substances and is now reduced to playing for $25,000 a month in Taiwan.

“I don’t think about the money and contract,” Ramirez said. “I just think it is a great opportunity for me and the fans.”

Ramirez, a 12-time All-Star in 19 big-league seasons and MVP of the 2004 World Series with the Boston Red Sox, last played in the major leagues with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2011. After signing a minor-league contract with Oakland, he hit .302 with 14 RBIs in 17 games with Triple-A Sacramento but asked to be released last June.

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