TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan’s Rhinos says slugger Manny Ramirez is leaving the team after 49 games because he misses his family in New York.
The Rhinos said it tried to keep the 12-time All-Star in Taiwan, including raising his monthly pay to almost $60,000 from $25,000.
Ramirez signed to play the March-to-November season with the Rhinos in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan. The team’s website said the 41-year-old will depart Taiwan on Friday.
Rhinos manager Lee Chia-fan wasn’t aware of Ramirez’s future plans.
Ramirez played 19 big-league seasons and was selected MVP of the 2004 World Series, when the Red Sox won their first title since 1918.
His last major league appearance was with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2011.
