Three-time All-Star and 2008 American League Rookie of the Year Evan Longoria will sign a one-day contract to officially retire as a member of his original organization, the Rays, reports Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. He’ll be honored in a ceremony before the Rays’ game on June 7.
Longoria sat out the 2024 season and said last summer that he was not pursuing a return to playing but was also not formally filing his retirement paperwork just yet. That left the door ever so slightly cracked for one final comeback bid, but Longoria will now formally call it a career after nearly 2000 big league games and more than 8200 major league plate appearances.
Longoria, 39, was the No. 3 overall pick by the Rays out of Long Beach State back in 2006. He was in the majors less than two years later, getting his first call to the majors on April 12, 2008. He signed a six-year, $17.5MM extension just six games into his major league career. At the time, bets of that magnitude on such young and unproven players were nowhere near as commonplace as they are in today’s game.
That extension, which contained a trio of club options, was the largest deal ever guaranteed to a player with such little MLB experience at the time it was signed. Longoria wasted little time in proving it money well spent. He hit .272/.343/.531 with 27 homers, 31 doubles and a pair of triples as a rookie, making the American All-Star team just a few months into his MLB career.
From 2008-13, Longoria was on the short list of best players in MLB. Only Miguel Cabrera, Cliff Lee, Justin Verlander and Felix Hernandez generated more wins above replacement than Longoria’s 34.8 in that span, per FanGraphs. His 12th-inninng walk-off home run (video link) in the final game of the 2011 regular season wound up propelling Tampa Bay to the postseason that year, and Longoria’s celebratory trot with both arms above his head as he rounded first base is a timeless memory for Tampa Bay fans — one that the team commemorated with a statue outside of Tropicana Field.
Longoria proved such a bargain and such a critical piece to the Rays’ success that in November 2012, they extended him for a second time — this time on the first nine-figure contract in franchise history. Tampa Bay exercised all three of Longoria’s club options in one fell swoop and tacked on another six years and $100MM in new money (bringing the total guarantee to $136MM over nine seasons).
Longoria didn’t quite keep up his early career form, but in five subsequent seasons with the Rays (2013-17) after signing that second contract, he still slashed .265/.325/.457 (113 wRC+) while maintaining his brand of standout defense at the hot corner. FanGraphs (19.8 WAR) and Baseball-Reference (22 WAR) suggested he was still one of the game’s top 25 or so position players even if he wasn’t quite at the very top of the sport anymore.
With Longoria set to secure 10-and-5 rights early in the 2018 season — ten years of service, including five straight with the same team — the Rays made the decision to look for a trade in the 2017-18 offseason. Players with 10-and-5 rights gain full no-trade protection, and Longoria’s remaining five years and $81MM were more palatable to larger-market clubs than the cost-conscious Rays. In December 2017, the Rays lined up on a swap sending Longoria to San Francisco in exchange for outfielder Denard Span, infielder Christian Arroyo, lefty Matt Krook and righty Stephen Woods. At the time of the swap, Arroyo was a few years removed from being a first-round pick out of high school and was considered to be a top-100 prospect on some rankings.
Longoria’s first season as a Giant was a disappointment — the least-productive of what would end up being 16 seasons in the majors. He bounced back to league-average offense with solid defense in 2019, but at that point his days of star-level output were behind him. Longoria had a down showing in 2020 and posted big rate stats in a more limited, part-time role in 2021-22. He signed a one-year deal with the Diamondbacks in 2023 and had a nice first half of the season before fading down the stretch.
That 2023 season with Arizona, during which Longoria played in the second World Series of his career, will now officially prove to be his last. He’ll walk away from the game with a career .264/.333/.471 batting line, 342 home runs (tied with Ron Santo for 108th all-time), 431 doubles (145th all-time), 26 triples, 58 stolen bases, 1017 runs scored and 1159 runs batted in (185th all-time).
Longoria made three All-Star teams, won three Gold Gloves, won a Silver Slugger and landed MVP votes in six of his 16 MLB seasons. FanGraphs pegged him at 55.2 wins above replacement, while Baseball-Reference was even more bullish, crediting him with 58.9 (133rd all-time among position players). Between his pair of extensions and that final one-year deal with the D-backs, he earned more than $148MM in a 16-year career that will garner some legitimate consideration among the electorate when his name is on the Hall of Fame ballot five years from now.
F it. Let him suit up for a game.
To add to this, I feel like to officially “retire with a team,” they have to at least appear in the game so it is in fact, their final team.
I think the Braves did that with Phil Niekro when he retired in 1987. They signed him and he pitched one more game before going out.
I like it
One of the original “Desperate Housewives”
Quite a career.
Buck – Yes, but I preferred Billy Hatcher’s wife Teri. She was real, and she was spectacular.
Bob – Better yet, since he’s retired now …. does he do roofing?
If so, I can think of a good project for him in St Pete.
I like your thinking
Will he, like, take batting practice that day? Wear a uniform?
The Dodgers should do the same with Ohtani’s translator.
If he’s out of baseball shape, start him symbolically on the field for one pitch and pull him out. No need to waste a consequential out for the Rays.
His one-day contract is the fifth highest contract in team history.
Agreed. The Rays really couldn’t be too much worse on offense
He can start at DH and take one at bat. Would be great to do what ripken did in his final all star appearance.
Even though it was an obvious meatball in a meaningless game.
Those Rays teams were so fun. 2011 has a special place in my heart as an Orioles fan being at the Andino game. Shoutout to Dan Johnson setting up the Longoria walk off. Solid career
My PTSD is bringing that back to me, couldn’t stand Longo for years after that.
bud – Truth is the Sox deserved to lose that year.
Chicken & Beer and the worst September collapse in MLB history.
69 Cubs would like a word with you
That hr cost me a fantasy league title and $. BUT it was bittersweet cuz I’ve always been a fan of Longoria. Class act. And he motivated me to give up playing fantasy baseball. One and done, and I don’t miss it. Very time consuming and wasteful.
Yeah, I came here to say… 2011 called and said eff Longoria.
Yup. Maddon and Longo and Zobrist and Pena. So much heart and passion. The team now is an absolute husk of a team with zero passion from the manager nor vets. Just all playing for paychecks.
The Rays? All playing for paychecks? They’re doing something wrong.
Let him bat! they must have a player they could move to 60DL to put him on the 40man and option a player for a day. After he strikes out then cut him like yesterdays rotted meat during the game so he can salute the fans and get his sendoff.
Interesting Arroyo from that trade is still working his bat in AAA batting a cool .350 in AAA in the philly system.
Cheers to a good Giant.
Please tell me you’re joking. Other than Zito probably the worst bang-for-buck signing in SF history. He was a dreadful Giant.
That was a horrible signing, he was clearly toast at that point in his career
I hope it doesn’t get rained out. I might even try going.
I had to remember they aren’t in the dome this year…
This is awesome baseball
longo forever giant
Wow. Really? I spend every waking hour trying to forget he was ever on the Giants. Terrible signing.
Gigante siempre
@Tell
That was not a terrible signing at all actually.
he was an above average hitter 3/5 seasons with them
and he was an above average defender as well.
And 2/5 he was atrocious, which makes it a terrible signing. Even in the 3 he was serviceable he was consistently injured.
@tell
that’s a good point, I forgot how many injuries he got.
thanks for correcting me.
Even though the D-Backs came up short winning the World Series in 2023, it was awesome to see such a respected veteran on that team and he still had it with the glove.
As it should be.
He always be firstmost a resident of Wisteria Lane, in my book.
I could see him sneaking in as the Rays first ever hall of famer, but he’ll probably just miss
Not sure he has the numbers to voted in unless by committee later on
Yeah, I don’t think he gets in. But he was on a HoF track until his career was sidelined by injuries. He was averaging 142 games played and 5.4 bWAR per season for his first 9 seasons. But in his last 7 seasons he averaged only 101 games and 1.5 bWAR. If he could have sustained his early success a couple more seasons, and reached 2,000 hits (70 short), and 400 HRs (58 short), I think he’d be inducted.
For what it’s worth, Dick Allen eventually made it in, and if him and the media didn’t have such a bad relationship when he was a player, probably would have made it in much sooner before his passing. Longo and Allen have very similar counting/cumulative stats, including hits, home runs, total bases, and bWAR. But on a rate stat wise, like BA/OBP/SLG, OPS, OPS+, Allen far exceeded Longoria.
True, but Allen exceeded Longoria at the plate by right around as much as Longoria exceeded him in the field.
The runs don’t particularly care if you save them or create them. They all matter. It’s why Juan Soto is a star but not a superstar.
I disagree that Soto isn’t a superstar. Plenty of superstars didn’t field well, but were great hitters. Guys like Manny Ramirez, Gary Sheffield, and Frank Thomas were superstars of the 90s and early 2000s, and none were considered fine defenders.
Soto is a two-tool player.
I feel like he’s the sort of player who won’t make the Hall, but will linger on the ballot for a handful of years.
Longo is one of those guys who has a HOF case by WAR and defensive/positional value, but wasn’t ever the best hitter in MLB or close to it. He did win Rookie of the Year, but never was a serious MVP candidate (finished 6th in voting twice). Never won a batting title or led the league in HR.
I am OK with putting players like this into the Hall, but the voters haven’t been, historically.
Ten year peak with an OPS+ of 125 with GG caliber defense.
He isn’t a Hall of Famer. Not by a long shot. He’s Hall of You Had a Good Career. Not even 2,000 hits.
And hence why you don’t have a HOF vote JackStrawb
@ForDoingNothing Someone right around 20th best 3Bman, all-time? I’d call him “in” and figure he’s juuuust barely in—but in.
Solid HOF peak in an era of fast, faster, fastest pitching (and extensive PEDs testing) that makes excelling well into your 30s extraordinarily difficult.
A ten year peak of 51.7 WAR, then two respectable years, then a useful career as a part-timer for four more years? That’s a HOFer to me, but the lack of Black Ink does make it an uphill climb.
He’s definitely in the conversation, he was a fan favorite and a franchise icon for a new expansion team, but is collectively enough?
Definitely a veterans committee pick guaranteed, but he’s borderline to get in on his merit.
Definitely not a first ballot, but should gather enough votes to be in contention for a bit.
I don’t think he is in the conversation, at least not with the voters. Look at Scott Rolen. He was on the ballot for 6 years and cleared the 75% needed by just 1.3%. Rolen had a career 70.1 bWAR over 17 seasons. Longoria finished with a 58.9 in 16 seasons.
Seeing how tough it was for Rolen to get in with an 11.2 higher bWAR, seems like a problem for Longo. I think the voters aren’t going to see him as a HoFer. Maybe the veterans committee inducts him, but it’s not looking good IMO.
All time Rays leader in several offensive categories. I remember being a bit disappointed when they traded him to the Giants, as i thought he might actually be the franchises first “lifer”.
Congrats to him and hopefully they have a proper number retiring ceremony when they return to the Trop next season
in 2011 i would have bet the house he was a hall of famer but as it is i think he falls just short
Great career. I enjoyed watching it and absolutely loved the 162 game bomb that ripped the hearts out of Boston.
He’s in the same career WAR zone as Bobby Abreu so I doubt he gets much HOF love.
My memory was when Tito left Beckett in to pitch to Longo in G2 in 2008, after Longo had already had a HR and a 2B in his two previous ABs against Beckett. And Beckett had absolutely nothing that game. Longo then doubled, drove in a run, and later scored, in a 9-8 loss.
We’d have gone ahead 2-0 if we won that game, and I think we’d have beaten Philly as well.
8 years in Boston, and that was the only mistake I remember Tito making.
Hall of Very Good. Enjoy retirement and congratulations on your career.
We need more of this.
My favorite “off the field” moment of his was when he brought his AK pattern rifle to his spring training apartment and someone stole it lmao 🙁
Anyway, great to hear Longoria officially retiring as a Ray.
Great ending to the regular season that day. Longo unfortunately walked off my Yanks but minutes later Baltimore walked off the Sox on a hit to left (ex-Ray Carl Crawford trying to make the play) to flip the WC as I recall.
NY – Close, the Red Sox lost to the O’s minutes before Longo’s gamewinning homerun.
What always amazed me is how the Rays seemingly intentionally cut out a piece of the outfield wall right next to the foul pole, making the wall drop from about ten feet tall down to about 4 feet tall and only 315 feet from homeplate, like they knew Longo would hit a WildCard-clinching homerun 4 1/2 feet off the ground right down that line.
He should’ve never played for anyoen but the Rays.
I think it would’ve been hilarious if he was married to Eva Longoria. She would be Eva Longoria Longoria.
I was at a Mariners game near 3base & a dumb fan kept trying to taunt him “Eva…” Longo was hilarious, first ignoring him, then pointing to his ear (can’t hear you) then laughed at the fan. I’m sure he got it everywhere…
Are you from West Virginia?
I dare them to trade him & his one-day contract to Seattle for yesterdays catch of pacific salmon!
Does anyone know how these contracts work? Is he actually paid? I assume he is not actually going to be rostered. So what is even the point to doing it? They can honor him without a contract.
I’ve wondered that for a long time… I need to remember to ask it in a chat. If I had to make a guess, I’d guess he gets paid for one pro-rated day at the league minimum, but that’s only a guess.
Steve Adams, any insight?
One day of the 183 day major league schedule at the league minimum, per baseball prospectus.
Thank you! I was never able to find that… I appreciate the help! My guess was pretty good…
From age 22-31 he put up almost 52 WAR and a 125 OPS+. I was thinking he was right on the fringe of the Hall but I think he sneaks in one of his last years on the ballot. Or if there’s a weak year before that.
And 3B is underrepresented in the Hall. That won’t hurt him.
I doubt that there’s a positional quota for the HoF. 3B is still a corner position, and better numbers are expected from the corner guys for induction. If Longoria played SS, or 2B, his numbers might have been good enough. But I don’t think they are for 3B.
I always thought at some point he would end up in pinstripes
Great career. Definitely not a HOFer.
As a Yankee fan he wasn’t my cup of tea (obviously). But kudos to him for a damn fine career and the sense to call it a day when he did. It’s always a shame to see guys hang around past their usefulness.
Not a HOFer, but deserves to be immortalized alongside Wade Boggs with a retired number by the Rays.
Longoria is pretty much Mr. Ray considering that I’m pretty sure he leads the team all-time in the hitting stats.
Longo… One of the best to ever do it. Love the 2008 World Series season. Amazing!!!
Please invite BJ Upton to the celebration.
The Dodgers should do the same with Ohtani’s translator.
Nice. Good work Rays.
The young Longo backhand catch that saved a reporter from serious hurt, remains one of the most instinctively talented things I’ve ever seen.
Longoria the Dirtbag. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Beach_State_Dirtbags_ba….
He was an incredible player before injuries took him off a HOF path. It will be great for him to be able to retire with the Rays,
Good career but never lived up to the hype.
Damn, I never realized how good Longoria’s peak was. Dope player.
Glad that the Rays and Longo can join up again for this special tribute. Enjoyed watching him play!
Say what you want about Longo. He never had a negative WAR season. Enough said
Longo was my favorite Rays player for many years. Great to see him get some recognition.
Wishing Longoria nothing but the best. This is the right move so he can retire with the Rays.
Nice player, definitely not a Hall of Famer