SYDNEY – Manny Ramirez was released by the Sydney Blue Sox due to uncertainty about the Australian Baseball League season during the COVID-19 pandemic and a medical problem that prevented him from playing or training with the club.
Blue Sox CEO Adam Dobb released a statement on Monday announcing the decision, saying, “It was extremely disappointing to take out the 48-year-old former Boston Red Sox player and 12-time Major League Baseball All-Star. We owe it to our fans and the other teams to make a decision now. “
“The level of investment to get him here meant this was never a PR stunt,” said Cobb. “We never intended that he would NOT participate in ABL this season.”
Ramirez failed to show up for the Blue Sox, which only played two games, on December 17 and 18, before a Sydney coronavirus outbreak and subsequent travel and border restrictions prevented the club from competing.
Cobb said he could not comment on Ramirez or the undisclosed medical condition, adding that the club was “doing everything possible to reactivate him.”
Ramirez, who was the MVP of the World Series when the Red Sox broke their 86-year title drought in 2004, had played in the US minor leagues, as well as China and Japan, since his career in the Major League ended. Braces.