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By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com | 04/08/11 4:31 PM ET
Manny Ramirez is retiring as a player, Major League Baseball announced in a
statement issued Friday afternoon.
The statement said Ramirez had "an issue" under MLB's Joint Drug Prevention
and Treatment Program and informed the league he is hanging it up rather than
"continue with the process under the program."
The statement, in full, reads as follows: "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."
If the issue involving Ramirez was a drug violation, he would be facing a
suspension of 100 games.
Ramirez, with 555 career home runs, signed with the Rays this offseason and
was off to a 1-for-17 start at the plate. The 12-time All-Star wasn't with
the team on Thursday because manager Joe Maddon said he was attending to a
"family matter."
In 2009, Ramirez, 38, was suspended 50 games by MLB for violating the
league's drug policy.
"We are obviously surprised and disappointed by the news," the Rays said in a
follow-up statement. "We will have no further comment on this matter, and our
fans and organization will carry on."
The Rays will select the contract of Casey Kotchman from Triple-A Durham to
fill Ramirez's roster spot.