Longtime big leaguer Alfonso Soriano has annunced his retirement from the game, reports Hector Gomez of Dominican outlet Listin Diario (via Twitter). The 38-year-old played in parts of 16 MLB seasons, including thirteen as a full-time regular.
Soriano was once one of the most consistent power threats in the game. Between 2002 and 2013, Soriano averaged 624 trips to the plate per season, slashing .273/.324/.511. He hit 385 home runs (32 per year) and stole 243 bags (20 a season) over that stretch.
Soriano appeared in seven straight All Star games (2002-08). While generally subpar defensive marks hurt his overall value, Soriano was ultimately worth just under 40 fWAR in his career, though he checked in at less than 30 rWAR.
The Dominican native started and ended his career in pinstripes, joining the Yankees after an early-career stint in Japan. He was later dealt to the Rangers and then on to the Nationals, where he moved from second to the outfield, and ultimately signed an eight-year, $136MM deal with the Cubs.
That massive contract had its ups and downs, but Soriano ultimately swung an above average bat in every year except for a rough 2009. He spent the tail end of the deal back in New York after a deadline deal, delivering an excellent stretch of play late in 2013. But he struggled to get it going last year, and was ultimately cut loose by the Yanks in mid-season.
Been a fan of his for a long time. & i’m sad he’s retiring on a bad note
He sure cashed in on that 40/40/40 season he had in ’06. That was just a bad deal for the Cubs.
He ended up being the best player on the Cubs eventually. Just not when it mattered.
Games at Wrigley have rarely ever mattered (and so I don’t get attacked by Bulls fans, I’ll say basketball games at MSG rarely ever matter)
HAHAHA this was a pretty funny comment, way to save yourself!
Has there ever been a good long term contract? The Cubs got what they paid for, he never played good defense and common sense said his speed wasn’t going to last
Every Barry Bonds contract was worth it.
I should have phrased it any post steroid era contract
Pujols and Jeter’s first big contracts were worth it.
Good chance Trout, Felix and Kershaws will be too. And as crazy as this may sound, I think A-Rod’s first contract worked out very well
A-Rods first contract might be the best +100M contract deal ever. 3/66M for 25 WAR, 156 HR, an MVP, 400RBI then he opted out.
I’d have to say Pujols’ was the best.
Also, where do you get 3/$66 mil from?
Thats my bad. I only counted his time with the Rangers on that deal. Forgot he got traded to the Yankees, hence the ‘he opted out’ instead of writing he got traded.
And, like most long term deals, got stuck with bad money on the back end.
It was market price in a very inflated market. He had some great years and his defense got a lot better towards, he just was signed to a MVP caliber contract.
Maybe the Cubs can sign him to a one day deal, so he can retire a Cub. Thank you Sori for all the memories.
No! He’s a Yankee: a powerful leadoff man in the waning years of the dynasty.
His numbers, including his slashline, are better with the Cubbies.
A higher WAR with the Yankees: 9.7-7.9. Nearly two wins better!
That’s really surprising to me. He’s had over 1000 more PA with Chicago. Maybe playing 2B (of course, an awful 2B) with the Yankees boosted it?? Cause otherwise I can’t see how.
Does it have to be one team? I’m not clear on how it works, but you could make a claim for either of the two.
The Yankees teams he played for were consistently competitive. Maybe if you adjust for his peers, MB923, the numbers might be closer. I completely lost track of him when the Yankees shipped him to Texas.
Was my favorite player for so long.
I remembered when he first signed that deal with the cubs. It was my first off season I payed attention to. O how I hated that deal. Even when he helped in 07/08, o still didnt like that deal.
In the end he was a okay guy. He falls under one of those that never lived up to his contract, and should never lead off lol.
Before we traded him I finally found respect for him. Thanks for being apart of some memories Sori. Have fun in retirement. Start signing now yea?
Cubs coach.
Not a hall of famer, but definitely a great career. Signing with the Cubs really hurt his HOF chances, should of stayed in the AL, but still a really nice career. Have a good retirement.
he would have been a hofer if he had a plan when he went to the plate. So much talent, but will swing at absolutely anything.
Maybe not even then. His dWAR pulled him from 38 career WAR down to 27. If he DH’d and had a plan, then we are talking.
And how is that if his numbers are better in the NL?
AL – .810 OPS. 109 OPS+
NL – .828 OPS. 114 OPS+
My point is that he shouldn’t of played the outfield in his career. He should of been a DH since he was maybe 30 years old. Nothing to do with how he hit in each league.
His Career UZR/150 in the OF was above 10. He was actually a very solid defensive OFer. I don’t think it hurt his chances at all.
-12 dWAR for his career.
Hmmm. Fangraphs lists him as above average. BRef has him below average.
His tz a big above avg, but he played a lower end of the spectrum fine. dWAR based on league avg defense, and only being slightly above avg at a less important position ends up with negative dwar.
Goodbye. Was a Yankee for much too long. I much prefer players that work hard to become great, than ones that have so much talent, but throw it all away because they simply don’t think.
So he stunk because he struck out a lot? Adam Dunn is the all time leader in K%. Future HOFer Jim Thome is 6th. Jose Canseco is 13th. Sammy Sosa is 18th.
Vlad Guerrero is the all time leader in Swing %. Soriano is 3rd. Other notable names there are Cano (8th), Yadier Molina (9th), Adrian Beltre (11th) , Miggy (16th) and Jeter (21st)
You don’t stink because you strike out a lot. You stink when you swing a lot, and miss a lot. Many of those guys that you listed as swinging a lot, also miss way less than Soriano.
He made $158 million playing baseball, and now gets to retire at age 38. Not bad for a guy who was never a superstar.
He made it to 7 consecutive All Star games. Also on 5 MVP ballots. Very good player. Not HOFer at all but he’s still one of the best hitters for the past 10-15 years.
Highest he hit was 131 wrc+. I’ll pass on saying he one of best hitters. Over past 10 years of players with at least 5000 PA he is 35th of 50 players in WRC+.
True but I’d like to see his ranking from 2002-2008, his 7 year all star span.
35th out of 64 players with 3500PA. Maybe if he was in a different era, but he played with guys like Pujols, Manny, arod, chipper, ortiz, berkman, thome, giambi, vlad, etc.
Always liked Fonzi. He maintained a great attitude and it is a shame his body broke down on him like it did. Enjoy retirement Alfonso!!!
It sure was fun seeing him again at the end of 2013, he was on fire for a good few weeks.
He seems to have an excellent reputation around the game. I wonder if he comes back as a coach somewhere.
I hope not. He had talent, but I really not sure if he is the best person to coach. Coach should be able to teach the correct approach, not sure a guy that is really physically talented, but missing other is the best.
This is shaping up to be a pretty impressive retiring class. Jeter, Konerko, Dunn, Soriano, Abreu, Beckett, all very impressive careers. Lots of all-stars. Youkilis, Zambrano, Dempster, Roberts. I am sure I am missing some, and there are more that have hinted at retirement.
If Rivera holds the 9th Inning Game 7 lead against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Alfonso Soriano is a Yankee/New York (what it would’ve meant post 9-11) legend.
With the game tied 1-1 he hit a Solo HR in the 8th off of Curt Schilling.
2-1 Yankees lead. Because of Sori we were 3 outs away from 5 titles in 6 years.
Thank You Soriano. You were a free swinger, but a potent power hitter, and a speedster in his prime. Always a 40/40 candidate. Glad he got his return to NY in the end of his career, never wanted to see him traded in the 1st place.
Yes soriano was a great player. You guys usually post the players lifetime earnings when they retire. Did you guys change that?
Thanks, Alfonso. Grateful for the memories, wish your Cub tenure had ended better. Enjoy your retirement.
Loved him as a Nat where he went 40-40-40. Wished he never left DC!