For a team that needs an attitude adjustment, Manny Ramirez could be a tonic for the Chicago Cubs.
Tapping his Boston Red Sox roots, Ramirez rejoined Theo Epstein by signing a minor league contract to be a player-coach for their Triple-A franchise. The team announced the move on Sunday.
Ramirez, twice a member of Red Sox World Series champions, has 555 career homers in the majors and hit .312 over 19 seasons.
Those are Hall of Fame credentials.
And the, we must remember what it meant at those times when "Manny being Manny" was spoken.
Still, Ramirez could bring to top Cubs prospects something the franchise has long lacked.
The swagger of a winner.
"Manny is not only one of the best hitters of all time, he is also a dedicated student of hitting and has proven to be a gifted teacher with younger teammates who have worked with him in the batting cage," Epstein said in a statement released by the team.
"Manny has made real mistakes in the past but he has owned up to them and moved his life in a positive direction the last couple of years. We think he deserves another chance and that our young hitters will benefit from it."
For now, Ramirez will be in Arizona to begin tune-up. Some day, Ramirez might just step into the Friendly Confines.
Ramirez turns 42 on May 30. He last played in the majors in 2011 with the Tampa Bay Rays. After starting his career with the Cleveland Indians, he played for the Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and 24 games for the Chicago White Sox.