Manny Ramirez Could Join Triple-A Iowa Soon

CHICAGO (AP) — Cubs executive Theo Epstein says he is pleased with Manny Ramirez's impact on the organization so far, and the former major league star could join Triple-A Iowa next week.

Ramirez signed a minor league deal in May and reported to the team's facility in Mesa to get some at-bats in extended spring training. When Ramirez reports to Iowa, he will be a player-coach for Chicago's top farm club.

Asked about Ramirez on Friday, Epstein says "Probably sometime next week that he's ready to go to Iowa, but we're not in a rush because he's making an impact with the young kids," in Arizona.

The 42-year-old Ramirez is a .312 hitter with 555 home runs in 2,302 games covering 19 major league seasons.

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