MLB and the players’ association are in the final stages of arranging a spring training trip for the Los Angeles Dodgers to play in Taiwan against the national team.
The Dodgers are due to come to Taiwan in mid-March, although there is uncertainty over whether star player Manny Ramirez will be with them.
Cheng Chi-chin of BROS Sports Marketing, who will be handling the visit, said the official list of players due to make the trip will be revealed in a press conference at Taipei City Hall today.
Ramirez, who turns 38 this year, has a 17-year career MLB behind him with a batting average of .313 and 546 home runs under his belt. His annual salary runs to US$20 million (NT$638 million).
However, after signing a two-year US$45 million contract with the Dodgers last year, he was suspended for 50 games for violating MLB’s Performance Enhancing Drug policy.
According to BROS, two Taiwanese players are confirmed to be with the Dodgers on the trip, Hu Chin-lung and Kuo Hong-chih as well as Japanese pitcher Hiroki Kuroda
Dodgers manager Joe Torre — who has a strong following in Taiwan thanks to Wang Chien-ming’s success at Torre’s previous team the Yankees — is also due to make the trip.
The Dodgers have been among the major league teams most interested in international play. Two years ago, they traveled to Beijing for a pair of March exhibition games against the San Diego Padres.
On Wednesday, the Dodgers said they will play the Cincinnati Reds in a split-squad exhibition game at Las Vegas’ Cashman Field on March 31.
STAFF WRITER WITH CNA
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