The Chicago Cubs have hired 41-year-old Manny Ramirez as a player/coach for their Triple-A team.
"Manny is not only one of the best hitters of all time, he is also a dedicated student of hitting and has proven to be a gifted teacher with younger teammates who have worked with him in the batting cage," Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein told ESPN of his reasoning for hiring the 12-time All-star outfielder. "Behind the scenes he has always been a tireless worker who is very serious about the craft of hitting.
Epstein spent seven seasons working with Ramirez when the two were with the Red Sox.
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According to ESPN, part of the statement released by the team also stresses that Ramirez is not an option for the Cubs' major-league roster and will only serve in a mentor capacity for some of the organization's top minor-league prospects.
"We do think at this stage of his life he's a nice fit as a mentor for some of the young talented hitters we have in the organization," Epstein said. "Manny will coach full time and play part time in a limited role that does not take at-bats away from our prospects. If he shows there is still some magic in his bat, perhaps he will find his way to the major leagues and help another team, but that is not why he is here."
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Ramirez played 19 big-league seasons, compiling a .312 batting average and 555 homers, 14th highest in MLB history. A 12-time All-Star, he last played in the majors with Tampa Bay in 2011.
"I'm at the stage of my life and career where I really want to give something back to the game that I love," Ramirez told ESPN. "I know I am nearing the end of my playing days, but I have a lot of knowledge to pass on to the next generation -- both what to do and what not to do."
As for Ramirez's steroids abuse riddled history, Epsten said: "Manny has made real mistakes in the past but he has owned up to them and moved his life in a positive direction. He is in a really great place right now and wants to share the lessons he's learned along the way. We think he deserves another chance and that our young hitters will benefit from it."
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