Manny Ramirez has retired from baseball after failing a second drug test.  His retirement will be instead of serving a 100-game suspension and continuing in Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

As of Friday, April 08, 2011, Manny Ramirez has retired.  Major League Baseball has released this statement:

“Major League Baseball recently notified Manny Ramirez of an issue under Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Rather than continue with the process under the Program, Ramirez has informed MLB that he is retiring as an active player. If Ramirez seeks reinstatement in the future, the process under the Drug Program will be completed. MLB will not have any further comment on this matter."

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The Tampa Bay Rays (Manny’s current team) released the following statement:

“The Tampa Bay Rays were informed today by the Commissioner’s Office that Manny Ramirez has decided to retire after being informed of an issue under the Drug Program.   We are obviously surprised and disappointed by this news.  We will have no further comment on this matter, and our fans and organization will carry on.”

Manny would have faced a 100-game suspension due to the fact that this was not his first PED-related offense.  In 2009 he served a 50-game suspension for violating MLBs drug policy.

One by one, these guys are tainting some of my favorite memories.  First Mark and Sammy from 98. Now Manny and the Sox from 2004.  If it comes out that Benny Agbayani isn’t actually Hawaiian, there’s a chance that my entire childhood was a lie.

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