What’s really cooking with Manny Ramirez? Remember back in May when reports came out that the two-time World Series champ had reached out to an MLB manager over the winter, offering to help out? At the time, he told insider Hector Gomez, “I’m confident I can help any team significantly improve their offense.”

But since then, things have been pretty quiet on that front. But now, as the MLB postseason is on the last leg and the offseason looms, talk about Ramirez making a return has started to heat up again. And if insider Mike Rodriguez is right, fans might actually have a few reasons to be excited. Especially the New York Mets fans.

“According to my sources, the great Manny Ramírez, who left his mark with 555 home runs, a batting average of .312, an OBP of .411, and an OPS of .996, is looking for a job as a hitting coach in an MLB organization. Imagine what it would be like to have Manny on a team! This could be an excellent opportunity for the New York Mets.” Rodriguez said about the probable return of Ramirez.

It’s been 14 years since Ramirez, now 52, was last involved with an MLB team. Reportedly, his most recent stint came in 2014 as a player-coach with Triple-A Iowa. A 2004 World Series hero with Boston and a proud member of the exclusive 500 home runs club, Ramirez hit 274 of those bombs in a Red Sox uniform.

So, what could Manny still bring to the MLB’s table? Quite a bit, actually enough to make any team at least curious! But why are the Mets specifically being mentioned?

Well, as per the recent reports, the Mets had dismissed pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, along with co-hitting coaches Jeremy Barnes and Eric Chavez. That opens up a few key positions, and the timing couldn’t be better for Ramirez, who recently told Foul Territory, “I could teach hitting! I just need the opportunity.”

Hence, in short, Manny Ramirez’s renewed interest in coaching lines up perfectly with the Mets’ vacancies, which is why the rumors are starting to pick up steam again.

The Mets’ current situation demands someone like Manny Ramirez

With a $340 million payroll, Juan Soto locked into the richest contract in sports history, and fresh off a run to the NLCS, the Mets looked poised to dominate. But instead, they didn’t even make MLB’s expanded postseason. Midway through the season, they were the best team in baseball. But now, the Mets were one of the biggest disappointments of this year.

Sure, their defense and pitching had issues, but it was the offense that really let them down. Despite being able to call upon stars like Soto, Pete Alonso, and Francisco Lindor, the Mets ended the regular season ranked 13th in batting average, 9th in runs scored, and 6th in on-base percentage. And with that kind of lineup, expectations were sky-high, but the results fell well short.

That’s why heading into next season, the Mets need someone who can unlock the full potential of their hitters. And honestly, who better than Manny Ramirez? A true student of hitting, Manny studied pitchers, predicted patterns, and had one of the sharpest eyes in the game. Notably, his elite plate discipline, evidenced by over 1,300 career walks, made him a nightmare for opposing arms.

Now, the question is: will this actually happen, or will it just fade away as another offseason rumor?