Manny Ramirez says it’s his last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...February 23, 2010
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Manny Not Expecting Return To Dodgers
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Manny Ramirez appeared in the Dodgers clubhouse for the first time on Monday morning and promptly conceded the probability that this is his final spring training with the club. “I won’t be here next year, so I just want to enjoy myself,” Ramirez said. “I don’t know [if he'll play next year]. I just know I’m not going to be here. When the season is over, I will see where I’m at.” Ramirez will turn 38 on May 30 and is entering the final season of a two-year, $45 million contract. He spent a large chunk of last season serving a 50-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance and most of the rest of the season struggling at the plate. He said he hasn’t been told by club officials that the Dodgers aren’t interested in re-signing him, but he added that it probably isn’t realistic to expect them to do so.
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I won’t be here next year, so I just want to enjoy myself. I don’t know [if I'll play next year]. I just know I’m not going to be here. When the season is over, I will see where I’m at.”
– Manny Ramirez
“I’m just speculating, but I’m not 23 anymore,” Ramirez said.
Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti, who spent much of the first three weeks of spring training last year working on Ramirez’s current contract, wasn’t about to concern himself with Ramirez’s next one or the lack thereof. “I’m not thinking about that today, I’m not worrying about that today, I’m not focusing on that today, and that isn’t a priority to me today,” Colletti said. “I hope he is focused on having a great year and being the best player out there. That would be great. … If he wants to continue to play after this year, I hope he will be one of the premier free agents on the market because that will mean he had a great year for the Dodgers.” Ramirez said he will wait until after the season to determine if he wants to play in the major leagues for what would be a 19th year. His options might be limited to the American League, which uses the designated hitter, because of his defensive limitations in left field.
Why Manny’s Dodger departure is inevitable 
ESPNLosAngeles.com’s Tony Jackson talks about Manny’s recent comments that this will be his final year as a Dodger and examines the McCourt divorce drama’s impact on the club’s offseason.
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