A's remain open to signing Manny

An Oakland executive says the Athletics remain open to signing slugger Manny Ramirez but the team is not actively pursuing the free agent.

Assistant general manager David Forst made his remarks during Sunday's A's Fanfest held at the Oakland Arena, next door to the Coliseum. A's owner Lew Wolff had suggested the move last week.

Ramirez applied for reinstatement to Major League Baseball last month. He was suspended for 100 games last year but the ban was trimmed to 50 because he sat out nearly all of last season. The suspension would start with the first game he is eligible to play after signing with a club.

Ramirez, who will be 40 on May 30, ranks 14th on the career list with 555 home runs.