On December 4, 2011 — Eight months after leaving the sport rather than face a 100-game ban due to failing a drug test. Manny Ramirez applies for reinstatement from the voluntarily retired list. However, the 39-year-old will still be required to resolve his outstanding violation of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. They announced on April 8th, that he will need to serve a 100-game suspension if he signs a contract with a major league team.

However, Ramirez struck a deal under which he would accept a 50-game suspension and be permitted to return. He signed with the Oakland Athletics for 2012. He played in 17 games, batting .302 without a home run, for Oakland’s Triple-A club in Sacramento, but never played for Oakland itself. The Athletics released him in June. He will also play overseas, in the Texas and Chicago minor leagues but never play for a big-league team again.

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