Ramirez will retire after positive test

Manny Ramirez walked away from baseball on Friday after testing positive for a performance- enhancing drug, abruptly ending the mercurial career of one of the most talented – and tainted – hitters to play the game.

The slumping Tampa Bay slugger informed Major League Baseball that he would retire rather than face a 100-game suspension. Ramirez served a 50-game ban for violating the drug policy in 2009, and second-time offenders get double that penalty.

“We were obviously surprised when we found out about it today, and hurt by what transpired,” said Rays vice president Andrew Friedman, who signed Ramirez to a $2 million, one-year contract in the offseason. “We were cautiously optimistic that he would be able to be a force for us.”

A person familiar with the situation confirmed that the 12-time All-Star tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the nature of Ramirez’s issue with MLB’s drug policy was not publicly disclosed.

The commissioner’s office announced Ramirez’s decision in a statement but provided few details.

“Major League Baseball recently notified Manny Ramirez of an issue under Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program,” the statement said. “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.”

MLB said it would have no further comment.

Ramirez played in only five games for the Rays, with one hit in 17 at-bats, and flied out as a pinch hitter Wednesday.

No surgery for Nishioka

Minnesota Twins second baseman Tsuyoshi Nishioka will not need a cast or surgery for his broken left fibula.

Nishioka was examined by team doctors who said he will be on crutches until the pain subsides and then they will go ahead with a rehab plan. There is no timetable for his return.

Nishioka was injured in a loss to the Yankees on Thursday when Nick Swisher slid into his left leg to break up a double play.

Dunn likely out longer

Slugger Adam Dunn will probably miss more than the five games the Chicago White Sox initially expected as he recovers from an emergency appendectomy.

Manager Ozzie Guillen said he’d rather lose a game than risk further injury by sending Dunn out to hit before he’s fully healed.