Manny Ramirez Signs to Taiwan Team: Former Major League Baseball Star "Starting a New Beginning'' With EDA Rhinos

Manny Ramirez' career has taken him through Cleveland, Boston, Los Angeles and Chicago, but now that he is 40 years old and winding down his 22-year career, he is ending it in Taiwan. The former Major League Baseball star has signed with the EDA Rhino's in the Taiwan baseball league. He will reportedly be making $25,000 a month to play this year's March-November season. This is roughly 1/100^th of his heyday salary but Ramirez does not seem to mind the money.

''I don't think about the money and contract,'' he said. ''I just think it is a great opportunity for me and the fans.'' Ramirez adds that he feels "blessed" and is "starting a new beginning."

Manny Ramirez helped the Boston Red Sox win their first world title since 1918 in 2004 and was named the Most Valuable Player in the World Series. He was also banned from the MLB for drug use in 2009 and 2011.  In 2012, he performed well at the Oakland Athletics' Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento, hitting a .302 average, but did not have his contract renewed. Hopefully he can go out swinging and in a positive light in Taiwan.

Taiwan's professional baseball league once consisted of 9 teams in 2008 but has now been lowered to 4. It has had its fair share of controversy as well: the reason why so many teams were lost is due to bribery and game-fixing scandals. Taiwan's national baseball team advanced through this year's first round of the World Baseball Classic. Unfortunately they failed to pass qualifiers Japan and Netherlands this past weekend in Tokyo.