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Texas signs Ramirez

Manny Ramirez agreed to cut his dreadlocks when he signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers. (Associated Press)
Manny Ramirez agreed to cut his dreadlocks when he signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers. (Associated Press)

Manny Ramirez is apparently cutting his long dreadlocks for another shot at the major leagues.

The Texas Rangers said Wednesday they had agreed to terms on a minor league contract with the 41-year-old slugger, who hasn’t played in the big leagues since 2011 with Tampa Bay.

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said part of the deal was Ramirez, twice suspended for testing positive for banned drugs, agreeing to cut his hair and “comply with our minor league rules on appearance and discipline.”

Ramirez was set to report to Triple-A Round Rock today, and he will be a designated hitter whenever he is activated. He played for three months in Taiwan before leaving the Rhinos on June 20.

“It’s kind of a no-risk flier,” said Daniels, indicating there was no time frame for him to be called up to the majors.

Ramirez hit .352 with eight homers for the Rhinos. The team tried to keep the 12-time All-Star, but he wanted to return to his family in New York.

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.

Ramirez is 14th on the career home runs list with 555.

Bailey horses around

Homer Bailey didn’t have much time Tuesday night to celebrate his second career no-hitter.

He had to get up early Wednesday to tend to his horses.

Cincinnati’s Texas-born right-hander celebrated his no-no by answering more than 200 text messages from former teammates and current and former major-leaguers while squeezing in a visit to the two horses he stables locally.

Clearing the bases

The New York Yankees have placed infielder Jayson Nix on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained right hamstring and signed infielder Luis Cruz. … The Diamondbacks have placed backup infielder Willie Bloomquist on the 15-day disabled list with a bruised left hand … The Chicago White Sox have placed slugger Paul Konerko and reliever Jesse Crain on the 15-day disabled list. … Brewers’ outfielder Ryan Braun might be back before the All-Star game after a good round of hitting in the batting cage.