Manny Ramirez is retiring as a player, Major League Baseball announced in a statement issued Friday afternoon.
The statement said Ramirez had "an issue" under MLB's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program and informed the league he is hanging it up rather than "continue with the process under the program."
The statement, in full, reads as follows: "Major League Baseball recently notified Manny Ramirez of an issue under Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment program. Rather than continue with the process under the program, Ramirez has informed MLB that he is retiring as an active player. If Ramirez seeks reinstatement in the future, the process under the drug program will be completed. MLB will not have any further comment on this matter."
