"Manny Ramirez's career has crashed and burned, disintegrated before our eyes.

What a way to go.

He apparently just couldn't live without his performance-enhancing drug of choice.

To think he could get away with taking it again and not get caught? What a fool. What arrogance. This just completely confirms what we all thought about Ramirez. If there was one player capable of getting caught twice, it would be Manny.

Although Major League Baseball did not announce a positive test, it said in a statement it "recently notified Manny Ramirez of an issue under Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Rather than continue with the process under the Program, Ramirez has informed MLB that he is retiring as an active player. If Ramirez seeks reinstatement in the future, the process under the Drug Program will be completed.''

In other words, I'm quitting so you can't punish me. As a repeat offender, Ramirez would have faced a 100-game suspension — double the one he served for his positive test in 2009.

The Tampa Bay Rays said in a statement, "We are obviously surprised and disappointed by this news. We will have no further comment on this matter, and our fans and organization will carry on.''"