Orioles express interest in Ramirez

The Baltimore Orioles are exploring the possibility of adding Manny Ramirez to their ballclub.

The Orioles, who are said to be interested in adding a veteran hitter to their lineup, have had talks with Ramirez's agent, according to general manager Dan Duquette.

"We are still considering the composition of this club, and some of the challenges of integrating a player like Manny into our ballclub and market," Duquette said during a conference call on Monday.

Duquette has worked with Ramirez in the past, as he was the general manager of the Red Sox when the team signed the outfielder to an eight-year contract in December of 2000.

The free-agent slugger has interest in playing for the Orioles, Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays, according to a report from ESPNDeportes.com last Friday.

Ramirez is a career .312 hitter with 555 home runs and 1,831 RBIs in 19 seasons with the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays.

If signed, Ramirez would still have to serve a 50-game suspension.