Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas plans to retire after the 2026 season, he told Doug McKain of Dodgers Nation following last night’s series-clinching win over the Phillies. The 36-year-old Rojas is an impending free agent and said he hopes to remain in Dodger blue for the final season of his career.
“I’ve been giving it everything that I have every single night for the four years that I’ve been here,” Rojas said. “Hopefully I can finish my career here next year because I’m going to retire after next year.” That’ll be Rojas’ 13th season in the big leagues overall, and he has accrued more than 11 full years of service time.
It stands to reason the Dodgers would be happy to keep him around on another cheap one-year contract. Rojas is in his second stint with Los Angeles. He debuted there in 2014 and was traded to the Marlins the following year. Rojas spent eight seasons in Miami, most of it as the starting shortstop. The Fish dealt him back to the Dodgers over the 2022-23 offseason.
Rojas was in the final year of his contract with Miami. The Dodgers immediately signed him to an extension for the 2024 season that came with a ’25 club option. They exercised the $5MM option after he hit .283/.337/.410 last year. Rojas has been almost as productive this season, batting .262/.318/.397 over 317 trips to the plate. While he isn’t going to hit for much power, he still reliably puts the ball in play and provides good defense at second or third base. Rojas’ days as an everyday shortstop are behind him, yet he has chipped in 10 starts and logged 117 innings at the position this year.
The Dodgers have used Rojas in five of their six postseason games. He started at second base for the clincher of the Wild Card Series against the Reds and was at the hot corner for Game 2 of the Division Series in Philadelphia. Rojas is a decent complement to left-handed hitting Max Muncy at third base. He has been more productive this season than fellow impending free agent utilityman Kiké Hernández. It’d make sense for the Dodgers to let Hernández walk and bring Rojas back on another deal in the $5MM range. If they let both players depart to open at-bats for Hyeseong Kim and/or rookie Alex Freeland, Rojas shouldn’t have a hard time finding a semi-regular utility role elsewhere.
Had a extremely solid career have a great retirement Rojas😁
In case you weren’t already excited enough for next season.. now we got the Miguel Rojas farewell tour!
Guy racked up a 20 WAR. Solid player. Good teams have a guy like this on their bench.
Wow, I would not have thought that he did that. That’s impressive.
2014 – LAD
traded to MIA in package that included E Hernandez + Austin Barnes to LAD
2015-2022 -MIA
traded back to LAD
2023-2025 -LAD
get it done Dodgers!!!
First ballot Hall of Pretty Good inductee when he retires.
Needs 12 hits for 1,000.
His contributions to the team are found in other places than a stat line. He essentially taught Mookie how to play SS. He’s got a future in coaching or managing.
Tulo taught mookie ss
I believe last season Roberts said Rojas was the most likely player on the roster to become a manager.
Could be. He has the instruction gene for sure. And one of these days, Mookie will be in a broadcast booth. My other future career prediction.
I’d like to see Mookie and Ozzie Guillen in the same booth. Well, maybe not.
I believe Rojas will be the next Dodger manager. Let’s make him a bench coach in 27’
I am hoping it will be Justin Turner. Either way I like both guys.
Considering his 19.3 career bWar, I think the stats measured his contributions quite well.
Except for the contributions the stats don’t measure at all. I will never understand the resistance to discussing any player qualities that don’t show up as numbers.
Blue Skies, OT, but just curious who you would prefer the Dodgers to play in the NLCS, thnx
I thought the Cubs if only because of home field advantage. But it might be just as well they are starting in Milwaukee because of the rain forecast in LA early next week.
Los Angeles in 4. I am still not sold on this team of role players, part-timers, short-side platooners, and just short guys in general (is Yelich the only position player/batter over 6 foot?)…and then we proceed to a West Coast World Series where anything & everything could happen!!!!!
Wow that is optimistic. The Brewers were a surprise this season but they somehow kept it going the entire way. Then of course we have the Brewers going 6-0 over the Dodgers in the regular season. We’ll hear that storyline in every inning, I bet.
I also intend to retire in the future
Don’t laugh. It took me 2-3 years to finally decide. I had to hand in my one-year notice during my annual review just so I knew I was closing doors behind me.
Congratulations Joe!
Have fun!
That’s advanced planning!
Miss Rojas already.
This is good to know. MLB can now plan a city-by-city ego trip for Rojas, just like David Ortiz.
Here you go, Mr. Sad Face. 🙁
Hope he goes into managing. Always liked Rojas’ game. Very well liked in the baseball community as well.