Former Red Sox Slugger Ramirez Retiring

Major League Baseball said is a drug prevention and treatment program issue.

Former Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez is retiring.

Major League Baseball said on Friday that the league recently notified Manny of an issue under MLB’s drug prevention and treatment program and he said he would retire.

He told MLB officials he is ending his career rather than "continue with the process under the program."

If he attempts to seek reinstatement in the future, the process under the drug program would be completed, according to MLB.

"MLB will not have any further comment on this matter," officials said.

Ramirez has been playing for the Tampa Bay Rays.

His retirement announcement comes after a hitting slump. On Monday night, he was 0 for 4, USA Today reported.

On April 6, he was out of the starting lineup for the afternoon and did not play the Thursday night game in Chicago.

Rays manager Joe Maddon called it a “family matter.”

"It's a personal thing," Maddon said. "It's something that we were aware of and it just so happens to be today. It is unavoidable," according to MLB.com.

"It's one of those things where I think it might be over," Maddon said on Thursday. "But you'd have to ask him, if he wants to speak to it. I'm not sure."

Ramirez played for Cleveland Indians from 1993 to 2000 and for the Red Sox from 2001 to 2008. He then played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Chicago White Sox and, finally, the Rays.  

In 2009, Ramirez, 38, was suspended 50 games by MLB for violating the league's drug policy.

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