Texas Rangers: No Plans to Recall Manny Ramirez

The Texas Rangers will not be bringing Manny Ramirez to the big leagues as the season’s second half begins, this according to MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan.

"The Rangers are going to keep Manny Ramirez at Triple A Round Rock. There are no plans to bring him to the big leagues after the All-Star Game, according to sources."

When the minor league contract with the former superstar was announced, I didn’t think much of it. Sure, Ramirez had put up outstanding numbers in the Chinese Professional League, but that’s a far cry from the kind of pitching he’d be facing even in the high minors, let alone if he were to return to the big leagues. The way his last deal ended, being released by Oakland’s PCL squad in 2012, I was pretty sure there wasn’t much, if anything, left in the tank for the now 41-year-old.

With all the necessary concessions about the dangers of small sample sizes, Ramirez has turned plenty of heads in his short stint at Triple-A Round Rock. He’s gone 9-for-30 at the plate in his first eight games and has clubbed three home runs for the Express.

The Rangers are without DH Lance Berkman, whose body has let him down once again. They’ve been dealing with a poor season from left fielder David Murphy (.651 OPS) and have even tried Jurickson Profar in the outfield to try to get more offense. That hasn’t worked either, as Profar is sporting a .655 OPS, himself. Meanwhile, the Rangers start the second half two-and-a-half games behind Oakland in the AL West and with question marks dotting both their pitching staff and their lineup.

Manny might not have been expected to help this ballclub at the big league level, but the way he’s going right now, Texas would be wise to give him yet another chance in the Major Leagues.