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James Loney Retires

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Veteran first baseman James Loney, who’d launched a comeback bid when he signed with the Atlantic League’s Sugar Land Skeeters, announced his retirement from baseball Friday.

It’s been three years since Loney, now 35, appeared in a big league game. His last Major League work came in 2016 when he batted .265/.307/.397 through 366 plate appearances with the Mets. Loney had a brief stint with the Korea Baseball Organization’s LG Twins, did not play in 2018 and appeared in just 11 games with the Skeeters this season before today’s announcement.

Although it’s been a bit since Loney was prominent in Major League Baseball, he’s still a well-known name to most fans thanks to a solid 11-year run at the MLB level. Selected by the Dodgers with the 19th overall pick in the 2002 draft, Loney debuted as a 21-year-old less than four years later and quickly solidified himself as a viable long-term piece in Los Angeles. He hit .284/.342/.559 in 111 plate appearances during that rookie effort and followed it up with a brilliant .331/.381/.538 showing in 375 plate appearances during the 2007 season.

That cemented Loney’s place in the L.A. lineup, and while his bat never matched that lofty standard again, he was a solid offensive presence for the Dodgers over the next four years, consistently hitting for average with quality on-base skills and one of the game’s lowest strikeout rates. In parts of seven seasons with his original organization, Loney hit .284/.341/.423 all while providing the Dodgers with above-average defense at first base.

Loney struggled in a brief run with the Red Sox after being included in 2012’s epic Adrian Gonzalez/Carl Crawford/Josh Beckett blockbuster and settled for a one-year deal with the Rays in hopes of rebuilding his stock. He did just that. Loney turned in a .299/.348/.430 performance with his characteristically strong glovework in his first season with Tampa Bay, and he parlayed that success into a three-year, $21MM deal to remain with the Rays. He’d give Tampa Bay a second season of above-average output before struggling in year two of that pact and eventually being released prior to the final season of the deal. It was at that point that Loney latched on for what now proved to be his final season — the aforementioned Mets run.

All told, Loney logged 1443 games in the Majors and hit .284/.336/.410 with 108 home runs, 267 doubles, 21 triples, 38 stolen bases, 528 runs scored and another 669 knocked in. Beyond that, Loney was a monster in the postseason, hitting .350/.429/.525 through 91 plate appearances across parts of eight different series (mostly with the Dodgers). Between his first-round bonus and his 11 seasons in the Majors, Loney racked up more than $38MM in career earnings.

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Comments

  1. Pretty solid, probably under appreciated career for Loney. Wish him nothing but the best in retirement

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    • Exactly, and his defense was also under-appreciated, as it often is for first basemen.

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      • Wait it thought he retired in 2007 oh wait he just didn’t do anything since then

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        • Long Duc you so funny. Oh Ducky funny man Ha haha. Oh Duc I forget . I forget to laugh. You funny man. Haha.

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    • Recall his fame in Houston when in played in Little League World Series!

      • It doesn’t make much difference, but the LLWS hero you are remembering was Wardell Starling (Spring Colt 45’s) a Pirates 4th Round pick and high school teammate of James…. The main difference is $38MM.

    • Ya he literally had 1 big game so I get the nickname. But he had a well above average glove, and some skill with the bat. Solid baserunner too, obviously lacking in speed.
      A Wrigley field GS that should haunt you is the October blast Will Clark hit off of Greg Maddux.

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  3. highly unappreciated player to say the least. happy retirement James.

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  5. Good career. His numbers may have been lauded more if he was a 2B or a catcher, but 1B’s you generally want some power from. No matter. He made good money and could handle the strike zone contact wise.

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    • Good comment with some valid points. Loney could not only hit for average but also work the count. For a guy who didn’t draw a ton of walks, he always seemed to be good at fouling off some pitches and making a pitcher work for an out. He did a lot of things well that made up for his relative lack of home run power.

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  7. I can remember having him on my fantasy team when he was on the Dodgers. I’m still waiting for him to hit for power.

  11. Wasn’t he supposed to try being a 2-way player with the Skeeters this year? Thought that would’ve been worth a mention

    • Damn, I completely forgot Loney was drafted to be a pitcher… I vaguely remember that fun fact. Loney was my 1st favorite player, those were the first years I spent watching Dodger baseball. Great guy too! Enjoy retirement!

      • He wasn’t drafted to pitch. He had a stellar prep career as a pitcher, but when the Dodgers drafted him, it was to solely play first base. He never pitched professionally.

  12. Good contact hitter with little power in the position that usually requires a big stick. Great glove work.

  13. On behalf of MLBTR we …
    A). Congratulate you on your career
    B). Send our condolences to your family and loved ones
    C). Thank you for the memories
    D). Please STOP with ALL of the MLBTR comments because know one cares

  14. Always liked James Loney on the Dodgers. Solid bat, good defense at 1B, and I’ll never forget that grand slam against the Cubs.

  15. I loved James Loney with the RAYS. Solid hitter … excellent defensively … great clubhouse guy. My 2 RAYS shirts are both Firstbasemen: Loney and Carlos Peña.

  18. Recall his fame in Houston when in played in Little League World Series!

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