Three-time MLB All-Star and 2015 AL MVP Josh Donaldson announced his retirement from baseball on Monday.
The 13-season MLB veteran announced his decision in an interview on the “Mayor's Office with Sean Casey” podcast.
“There was a time at the end of the season where I felt really good about the situation I was in, so I wanted to give it another try,” Donaldson told Casey. “But now that I'm home with my family, and now that I'm married, today is both a sad and happy day for me. I'm announcing my retirement from the game to which I have devoted my entire life.
“It's sad not being able to go out and play the game I love, but it's also a great time to be able to spend time with my family and move on to the next chapter of my life.”
Donaldson, 38, played part-time for the Milwaukee Brewers last season after being released by the New York Yankees. He began his MLB career with the Oakland Athletics in 2010 and went on to play for the Blue Jays, Cleveland, Atlanta Braves, Minnesota Twins, and Yankees before joining the Brewers.
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Donaldson was involved in controversy many times during his MLB career. He reportedly didn't get along with his Minnesota teammates. MLB will fine and suspend Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson in 2022 after he admitted calling him “Jackie” after Jackie Robinson during a scuffle that resulted in the ejection of both benches. I was punished.
Donaldson entered the offseason as a free agent and said in November that he was open to reuniting with the Blue Jays. But with spring training underway and Opening Day just weeks away, he has finally decided to call it a career.
Donaldson leaves baseball with a batting average of .261/.358/.489, 279 home runs, 816 RBIs, and 40 stolen bases in 1,383 career games. He played his best baseball for the Athletics and Blue Jays, making three All-Star teams with both teams combined. During his 2015 MVP campaign with the Blue Jays, he hit .297/.371/.568 with 41 home runs and an AL-best 122 RBIs and 123 RBIs.
