Manny Ramirez is making it plain that he wants back in baseball, and he is aiming at an MLB hitting coach role before the 2027 season.
According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, the Boston Red Sox legend and franchise Hall of Famer is pursuing a coaching job. Heyman also reported that Ramirez would even be willing to start in the minor leagues if that is what it takes to get back into the game.
Ramirez has been after a coaching opportunity for more than a year. He previously served as a player/coach with the Sydney Blue Sox of the Australian Baseball League from 2020-21, though he never got into a game because of an injury and the COVID-19 pandemic.
There had at least been a small opening for the Red Sox to look elsewhere after the 2026 season, since the staff Chad Tracy brought in after Alex Cora's April firing came from the minor leagues. But on NESN's "310 to Left" podcast, Tracy said Boston does not expect "major changes," while adding that there are still conversations ahead.
Even so, Ramirez keeps putting himself out there. He has been showing regular hitting sessions on social media, and in a few of those videos he has worn a New York Yankees hat - a choice that has not exactly played well with Red Sox fans.
Ramirez spent part of his childhood in Washington Heights, New York City near the Bronx, but he grew up rooting for the Toronto Blue Jays because of the Dominican players on their roster whom he admired. Still, the Yankees hat has made the whole thing feel less like a coincidence and more like a message to Boston.
As a hitter, Ramirez’s resume speaks loudly. He finished his career with a .312/.411/.585 slash line and 555 home runs across 2302 games in parts of 19 seasons. He also helped mentor hitters along the way, including another Red Sox icon in David Ortiz.
The question is not whether Ramirez understands offense. It is whether a team will trust him in a coaching role without any MLB coaching experience. The Yankees, for one, are not looking for a new hitting coach, since James Rowson’s job is safe after last season.
And even if that changed, it would be an unusual fit. The Yankees are still competitive, but the source of that window is obvious: Aaron Judge. If they want to help him win a ring, they need an offense that can carry its weight.
Ramirez’s reputation could be another hurdle, too. His history includes odd clubhouse behavior and a “lone wolf” personality, and that old “Manny being Manny” label may not be the kind of thing a front office wants around its coaching staff.
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