If the Texas Rangers are worried that recent free-agent signee Manny Ramirez still has his hands in the steroids jar, they won't have to wait long to find out. The veteran slugger was subject to a random drug test at Triple-A Round Rock earlier this week, reports Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Rangers’ Manny Ramirez already subjected to drug test
Manny has been at the Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate for less than a week, but has already faced a “random” drug test.
USA TODAY Sports
More Rangers: Neil Ramirez, A Developing Story
The timing of the “random” testing seems (at least) curious, but Manny wasn’t the only Round Rock player to undergo the test. All members of the team who were/are not on the Rangers’ 40-man roster had to take part in the test right alongside Manny.
Waiting for Puig (to slump)
It might never happen, but I want to see what Yasiel Puig's response is when the slump comes. The test is potentially a very big deal for Ramirez, 41, because he has twice failed similar tests. If he were to fail this test, or any subsequent one in the future, he would receive a life-time ban from Major League Baseball.
General manager Jon Daniels declined to comment on the timing of the test, only saying that Ramirez has been a “model citizen” since signing his minor-league contract last week. Daniels added that he doesn’t have high or low expectations for Ramirez, and that the club is still several weeks away from making any sort of decision about bringing him up to Arlington.
Ramirez has appeared in four games so far for the Triple-A club, notching three hits -- including a home run -- and three walks in 15 plate appearances.
More from SB Nation:
See More:
