Manny to Phils? Wild Thing explains why

Manny Ramirez believes he's ready to return to the majors.

Thanks to the A's, who couldn't guarantee a promotion to the majors and on Friday granted his request for a release, the 40-year-old Ramirez is now a free agent.

Could the 12-time All-Star end up with the Phillies? Former Phils closer and CSN Postgame Live analyst Mitch Williams thinks so. Now an analyst for MLB Network, Williams on Friday night's edition of MLB Tonight explained why.

"If he's healthy, don't be shocked if he ends up in Philadelphia, because Charlie Manuel and him are very, very close," Williams said. "And they need a bat bad in Philly. If nothing else, Manny changes the way pitchers pitch."

Ramirez and Manuel spent seven seasons together with the Cleveland Indians. Manuel was the Indians' hitting coach for the first six (1994-99) and the manager for the seventh (2000).

Ramirez signed a minor league deal with Oakland on Feb. 20 and hit .302 with 14 RBIs in 17 games for Triple-A Sacramento after serving a 50-game suspension for violating the MLB drug policy last year.

After signing a one-year, $2.02 million deal with Tampa Bay last year, Ramirez went 1 for 17 in five games. He retired instead of serving a 100-game suspension for a second failed drug test (he also failed one in 2009 while with the Dodgers). Commissioner Bud Selig cut the suspension in half after Ramirez sat out the rest of the season.