Manny Ramirez is on the verge of returning to the major leagues. The Oakland Athletics are likely to sign the slugger just before or soon after the start of spring training, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

The news of Ramirez's return comes two days after the Athletics signed Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to a four-year, $36 million deal.

GALLERY: Manny Ramirez

Ramirez, who will be 40 years old on May 30, would serve as the designated hitter. But first, he would have to serve a 50-game suspension for violating baseball's drug policy. Ramirez retired last season rather than serve a 100-game suspension after a second violation, and that ban was cut in half for this season.

It would seem that looming suspension would dampen the A's enthusiasm for Ramirez. Clearly in rebuilding mode, Oakland general manager Billy Beane would certainly welcome flipping Ramirez to a contender for prospects this summer.

But Ramirez would have exactly two months from the end of his suspension until the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline to establish any sort of trade value.

For now, it appears he'll join an increasingly intriguing mix of personalities in Oakland.

"I like him," Coco Crisp, the Oakland A's centerfielder and former teammate told the Chronicle. "He's a great teammate, he's cool, he works hard, he's just eccentric. He's different. All of the great players are quirky in one way or another. Manny is an awesome person, nothing but pleasant and fun, but the negative stuff always captures people's attention more than the positive things. I think the positive outweighs the negative."

The Baltimore Orioles were one of the teams to have interest in Ramirez until Tuesday. Dan Duquette, the Orioles vice president of baseball operations, told the Associated Press, "I don't know that Manny Ramirez is a fit for our club right now."

The 12-time All-Star had a bitter split with the Boston Red Sox in 2008. He wore out his welcome with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2010 and spent the latter half of the season with Chicago White Sox before becoming a free agent. In 2011, he went just 1-for-17 with the Tampa Bay Rays before he announced his retirement.

Ramirez ranks 14th all-time on the home run list (555) and 18th in RBI (1,831).