Manny Ramirez was released by the Oakland Athletics on Friday at the slugger’s request.

The A’s signed Ramirez to a low-risk deal before the season, but he had to serve a 50-game suspension for violating MLB’s drug policy before he could start playing. He would have made $500,000 if he was added Oakland’s big league roster.

Ramirez was eligible to join the active roster on May 30, but was never called up by the A’s. He was hitting .302 with three doubles and 17 strikeouts in 17 games for the River Cats before being granted his release.

Ramirez told ESPNDeportes.com’s Enrique Rojas by phone:

The A’s treated me amazingly during all this time, but sadly didn’t have space for me and this is something I can’t control. I’m going home to continue my training hoping to get the chance to play again. I’ll be waiting for that call and if God believes (playing) is the best for me, then it’ll happen. If not, I’ll understand. It was an amazing experience. I was given tremendous treatment by Oakland’s major league and Triple-A staff. I’ll always have them in my heart. I was ready to play, but Oakland didn’t have a space in its roster. I understand.”

Ramirez’s agents, Barry Praver and Scott Shapiro, said in a statement via ESPN:

Manny believes he has demonstrated that he is ready to return to the major leagues. However, given that the Oakland Athletics could not give Manny any assurance that they plan to promote him in the immediate future he asked for his release. Manny thanks the A’s for providing him with this opportunity.

In his career, Ramirez has 555 home runs, 1831 RBI’s, and a batting average of .312. His last appearance in the majors was with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2011, when he went 1-17 in five games.