CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs want Manny Ramirez to mentor their minor leaguers at the very end of a colorful career that includes two World Series titles and a pair of suspensions for positive drug tests. Angels Tyler Skaggs Jersey . Ramirez signed a minor league deal with the Cubs on Sunday and will be a player-coach at Triple-A Iowa after he gets some at-bats in extended spring training at the teams facility in Mesa, Arizona. The 41-year-old Ramirez is a .312 hitter with 555 home runs in 2,302 games covering 19 major league seasons. Seven of those were in Boston, where Cubs executive Theo Epstein was the general manager of two Red Sox clubs that won it all with Ramirez playing a key role and earning a World Series MVP award. "While Manny is not and will not be a fit on the Cubs major league roster, we do think at this stage of his life hes a nice fit as a mentor for some of the young talented hitters we have in the organization," Epstein said in a statement. "Manny will coach full-time and play part-time in a limited role that does not take at-bats away from our prospects. "If he shows there is still some magic in his bat, perhaps he will find his way to the major leagues and help another team, but that is not why he is here. We are thrilled that he wants to work with our young hitters and make a difference." Ramirez most recently played in the big leagues in 2011, with Tampa Bay. The 12-time All-Star had a minor league with Texas before the Rangers released him last August. "Im at the stage of my life and career where I really want to give something back to the game that I love -- the game that has meant so much to me and done so much for me and my family," he said in a release. "I know I am nearing the end of my playing days, but I have a lot of knowledge to pass on to the next generation -- both what to do and what not to do." Ramirez was suspended for 50 games in 2009 while with the Los Angeles Dodgers after testing positive for a banned drug. He retired in April 2011 instead of serving a 100-game ban for a second positive test while with Tampa Bay, but later agreed to a reduced 50-game suspension and played in the minors for Oakland in 2012. The teaching role for Ramirez is a bit of a gamble for Epstein, who is depending on Chicagos rich farm system to turn around the floundering franchise. The Cubs lost 197 games over the previous two seasons, and began Sunday in last place in the NL Central with an 18-29 record. "The reality is he is a great, great hitter who can provide valuable insight and knowledge," Chicago manager Rick Renteria said before the game at San Diego. Chicagos top hitting prospects at Iowa include infielders Arismendy Alcantara and Javier Baez, a first-round pick in 2011 who is off to a slow start after he was a late cut by the Cubs following a solid spring training. Third baseman Kris Bryant, the No. 2 overall selection in last years draft, is one of the top hitters in the Double-A Southern League and could make it to Iowa by the end of the season. "The Cubs have some very talented young hitters, and I would love nothing more than to make a positive impact on their careers," Ramirez said. "I am passionate about baseball and about hitting, and I have a lot to offer. While I would love to return to the major leagues, I leave that in Gods hands. My focus will be on working with the young hitters, making sure they dont make the same mistakes I made, and helping the team any way I can." Ramirez was selected 13th overall by the Cleveland Indians in the 1991 amateur draft and rose quickly through the minor leagues, with a youthful exuberance and natural charisma that endeared him to just about everyone he met. He signed with the Red Sox as a free agent in December 2000, helping the franchise win an elusive World Series championship a few years later, then doing it again in 2007. Ramirez led the American League with a .349 batting average in 2002, finished second the next year, and had an AL-best 43 home runs in 2004. But there was another side to Manny -- his lackadaisical play, particularly on defence and the basepaths, rubbed some managers and teammates the wrong way. "Manny has made real mistakes in the past but he has owned up to them and moved his life in a positive direction the last couple of years," Epstein said in a release. "He is in a really great place right now and wants to share the lessons hes learned along the way. We think he deserves another chance and that our young hitters will benefit from it." Angels Mike Trout Jersey .Mihajlovic was sent off minutes from the end of Thursdays 2-0 win over Brescia and has been punished for using a disrespectful expression toward the fourth official and throwing the contents of a bottle of water at him, thus assuming an intimidating attitude. Angels Eric Young Jr. Jersey . -- Navy football player Will McKamey, who has been hospitalized since collapsing at practice three days ago, has died while in a coma. http://www.cheapangelsjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=angels-zack-cozart-jersey .Y. - Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby captured his second career Art Ross trophy on Sunday after leading the NHL in scoring this season.TOKYO -- The calculations are simple for Sebastien Vettel as he chases victory in the Japanese Grand Prix to secure a fourth straight Formula One championship. If Vettel wins at Suzuka on Sunday, and his nearest rival Fernando Alonso finishes worse than eighth, the German driver will join his compatriot Michael Schumacher and Argentine Juan-Manuel Fangio as the only men to win four consecutive titles. And if he does it in Japan, where he has won three of the last four GP races, hell be the youngest in the exclusive list to achieve four straight titles. He has won the last four GPs, and his latest victory at the Korean Grand Prix on Sunday stretched his lead over Alonso to 77 points with five races left, and he rates Japan among his favourite GP events. Despite the odds seemingly stacked in his favour, Vettel remains cautious. "No win is inevitable," Vettel said. "Sure, theres some sort of expectation as things went so well in the immediate past -- and also because I like Suzuka a lot -- but I would find it inappropriate to sort of bank on winning." Ferrari driver Alonso, who won in Japan in 2006 and 2008, wasnt about to give up after finishing sixth in Korea, but was realistic about his chances. "Vettel is a very long way off in terms of points, but above all in performance terms, and we cannot expect miracles between now and the end of the championship," Alonso said. "Second place in the constructors championship is probably a more realistic target, but one thing is certain, we are not giving up now and we will give it our best shot right to the very end. Angels Jaime Barria Jersey. " Vettels dominant run has some critics complaining of a lack of drama in F1. The German driver was booed when interviewed on the podium after winning the Singapore Grand Prix and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton was recently quoted in the British media as saying the sport has become too predictable with Vettels dominance. Hamilton later backtracked, and praised Vettel as a true champion. But the point was not without some truth. Whether it comes in Japan or in one of the four races after Suzuka, another Vettel title is destined to rekindle comparisons with legendary figures like Schumacher and Fangio. Fangio, who competed in just seven full seasons, won a total of five titles and four straight from 1954. Schumacher won five straight titles from 2000-2004. His fourth successive title during that run came in 2003 when he was 34. And by the time he retired at 43, hed won seven championships and was described as "statistically the greatest driver the sport has ever seen." Suzuka has always been popular among Japanese fans, who got a thrill last year when Kamui Kobayashi became the first Japanese driver to finish on the podium in 22 years. Kobayashi is no longer in F1 and the only chance for some local participation would be from Kimiya Sato, who will be Saubers reserve driver for the race. Sato, no relation to former Jordan and Honda driver Takuma Sato, tested for the Swiss squad at the young driver test at Silverstone earlier this year. He finished third in last years German F3 championship and is currently second the 2013 Auto GP standings. Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap Adidas Hockey Jerseys Wholesale Nike Baseball Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys From China Wholesale Jerseys China Wholesale NFL Jerseys China Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Nike NBA Jerseys Authentic Cheap NHL Jerseys Canada Cheap Nike MLB Jerseys Cheap Soccer Jerseys China NCAA Jerseys Cheap Nike NHL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys Store Cheap Football Jerseys Store Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Jerseys NCAA China Jerseys NFL Cheap Cheap Nike NBA Jerseys ' ' '