The Oakland A's play their first spring training exhibition game today as Cactus League play kicks off in Arizona.
Manny Ramirez will start at designated hitter and bat clean- up in today's game against the Seattle Mariners. He is allowed to play during spring training, but when the season starts he'll begin serving his 50-game suspension for violating the league's drug policy.
Ramirez walked away from the game while playing for the Tampa Bay Rays after testing positive for performance enhancing drugs in 2010. He served a 50-game suspension for violating the drug policy in 2009 while playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The suspended slugger agreed on a minor-league contract with the Athletics that worth about $500,000, but only if he's added to the major-league roster.
Manger Bob Melvin says he's happy to have the talented hitter.
