Former Mariners slugger Nelson Cruz retires from MLB at age 43 with 464 career home runs
OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 01: Nelson Cruz #23 of the Seattle Mariners bats against the Oakland Athletics in the top of the fourth inning at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on September 1, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Image
Former Seattle Mariners slugger Nelson Cruz says he is retiring at age 43 after hitting 464 home runs in 19 major league seasons.
The seven-time All-Star announced his decision Thursday on The Adam Jones Podcast.
"So this is the last we’re seeing of Nelson Cruz?" Jones asked.
"I think so, yeah," Cruz responded.
Cruz was released by San Diego on July 10 after batting .245 with five homers and 23 RBIs in 49 games. He had signed a $1 million, one-year contract.
Cruz spent four seasons with the Mariners from 2015-18 and serves as one of the team's most successful free agent signings in recent memory.
After signing a four-year, $57 million deal with Seattle in 2015, Cruz delivered a .284 batting average with 163 home runs, three triples, 95 doubles, and 414 runs batted in during his tenure with the Mariners. Of his seven career All-Star Game appearances, three came with Seattle in 2015, 2017 and 2018.
Cruz also won two Silver Slugger Awards during his time with the Mariners in 2015 and 2017.
Cruz hit 18 postseason homers and played in consecutive World Series with the Texas Rangers in 2010 and ’11. He made five appearances among the top 10 in Most Valuable Player voting.
Cruz hit .274 with 1,325 RBIs for Milwaukee (2005), Texas (2006-13), Baltimore (2014), Seattle (2015-18), Minnesota (2019-21), Tampa Bay (2021), Washington (2022) and San Diego.