Veteran infielder Casey Blake announced that he will retire from baseball, according to Bryce Miller of the Des Moines Register. The 38-year-old said he considered playing for one more year before deciding to move on.
“I just decided to shut it down,” he said. “And I’m OK with the decision.”
Blake will retire with 167 home runs and a .264/.336/.442 batting line after a career that included stops in Cleveland, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Baltimore and Toronto. He averaged 22 home runs per season with an .800 OPS in his prime, from 2004-08.
Blake spent considerable time on the disabled list last year as he dealt with a cervical strain. Agent Jim McDowell represents the veteran infielder, who earned more than $32MM over the course of his 13-year career. The Rangers expressed interest in Blake after the Rockies released him this spring, the Register reports.
Hope he someday makes to the Indians hall of fame.
Sad to see him retire, I was really hoping that Arizona would give him a shot at the hot corner and on the bench. I think he still has value to him, he just needs the right team to pick up the phone.
Thanks for 2008 and 09 Blake. Great player, even better clubhouse leader
His beard will be missed
Sorry to see him go best of luck C.Blake!!!
Well………….Bye!
I heard a rumor he is retiring because he has full blown A.I.D.S. I hope it’s not true, but if so my prayers are with him.
He should make it just for netting Carlos Santana in return.
this ^
you can thank Frank McCheap for that, not willing to take on any of Blake’s contract, it forced Colletti to throw in Santana so the Dodgers didnt have to take on money
The actual Devern Hansack is, yeah. I’m just a dude from Boston who thinks Hansack should have gotten more of a look at the big league level.
I agree. There have been others recently who have performed much worse and been given more of a leash. I have fond memories of a few of his games with the Sea Dogs.