Manny Ramirez joins Triple-A Iowa as player/coach

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Manny Ramirez has been called everything from a World Series MVP to a cheater.

The disgraced slugger is hoping to add ''mentor'' to his resume.

The 42-year-old Ramirez, a two-time champion with Boston and a two-time offender of Major League Baseball's rules against performance-enhancing drugs, joined the Triple-A Iowa Cubs as a player/coach on Thursday after signing with Chicago in late May.

Ramirez is expected to play one or two times a week for the organization's top affiliate in Des Moines. But Ramirez's biggest responsibility will be to work with the Cubs' most promising prospects.