Police say former World Series MVP Manny Ramirez, 39, has been arrested in a domestic dispute at his Florida home and he is being charged with battery.
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office says Ramirez was arrested Monday at his home in Weston, Fla.
Ramirez retired in April rather than face a 100-game suspension for a second violation of Major League Baseball’s drug policy. The 12-time All-Star served a 50-game ban in 2009 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Second-time offenders get double the penalty.
Ramirez, who hit 555 home runs in a 19-year career spent mostly with the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox, began the season with the Tampa Bay Rays and batted .059 in five games before retiring after being informed he had failed a drug test.
Known for his run-producing progress and goofy antics on and off the field, Ramirez had a .312 career average and 1,831 RBI, plus he won the MVP award from the 2004 World Series with the Red Sox. He played with the Indians from 1993 to 2000. In 1999, he set a Tribe season record with 164 RBI.
Mets hope for cap tribute
Mets player representative Josh Thole hopes to come to a deal soon with Major League Baseball on a policy that would allow his team to wear emergency-service-department caps during games on Sept. 11 every year.
Thole called the players’ association Monday, a day after the Mets were denied their request to wear caps honoring rescue crews on the 10th anniversary of the 2001 attacks. He said he wanted to discuss marketing and licensing possibilities but had not heard back.
“I would like to just get it solidified so when next year comes around whether it’s the 11th or 12th it’s not an issue anymore,” Thole said before the Mets played the Washington Nationals.
The Mets wanted to wear caps honoring police, firefighters and other rescuers when they played the Chicago Cubs on Sunday night. They wore the hats for batting practice and the pregame ceremony, but MLB insisted they wear their regular caps during the game.
Joe Torre, MLB’s executive vice president for baseball operations, said the decision was made to keep policy consistent throughout baseball.
“Certainly it’s not a lack of respect,” Torre said. “We just felt all the major leagues are honoring the same way with the American flag on the uniform and the cap. This is a unanimity thing.”
Carpenter, Cardinals near deal
Pitcher Chris Carpenter and the St. Louis Cardinals are closing in on a $21 million, two-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press.
The agreement is likely to be announced this week.
St. Louis has a $15 million option for next season, of which $2 million is deferred without interest, as part of a $63.5 million, five-year contract agreed to in December 2006. That deal carries a $1 million buyout.
Carpenter. 36. is 9-9 with a 3.75 ERA in 30 starts this year and 142-92 with a 3.79 ERA in 14 seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays and the Cardinals.
Injury report
Cincinnati Reds utility infielder Chris Valaika will have season-ending surgery next week to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Valaika was hurt in the fifth inning Sunday at Colorado when his spikes caught in the dirt as he was swinging at a pitch. He expects to be ready for spring training. Also, shortstop Zack Cozart, already sidelined with Tommy John surgery on his left (non-throwing) elbow, is scheduled to have minor surgery to clean out his right ankle.…Toronto Blue Jays reliever Jon Rauch has been placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a cartilage tear in his right knee. The right-hander plans to be examined next week by knee specialist Dr. Richard Steadman in Vail, Colo.…The Chicago White Sox have activated right fielder Carlos Quentin from the 15-day disabled list.
