The switch-hitting slugger who has been productive for numerous teams since defecting from Cuba has called it a career, that being Kendrys Morales, who did just that on Friday. Morales makes the announcement following 13 MLB seasons since he defected over in 2004. The 34-year-old was very obviously on the decline due to injuries in his final season, as he combined to have just a .194 average with two home runs in 201 plate appearances with the New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics.
The Yankees released Morales in July and he never found another home the rest of the season, which gave him time to realize that it was time. The designated hitter/first baseman stated "it is hard, but it is the right decision for both me and my family. He also pointed at the fact that, in his opinion, baseball has changed, making "veteran ballplayers such as myself not as valued."
He immediately signed a six-year, $3 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels after coming over, but did not have his first full season in the majors until 2009. That first season was one to remember for him, as he finished with 34 home runs, 108 RBIs, and a .569 slugging percentage. He also spent time with the Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins, and Kansas City Royals, where he won the World Series in 2015. He is also remembered for the unfortunate incident in 2010, where he tore his ACL while celebrating a walk-off grand slam against the Seattle Mariners. He missed the rest of that season, but still finished his career with a .265 batting average, 213 home runs, and 740 RBIs from both sides of the plate.
The Yankees released Morales in July and he never found another home the rest of the season, which gave him time to realize that it was time. The designated hitter/first baseman stated "it is hard, but it is the right decision for both me and my family. He also pointed at the fact that, in his opinion, baseball has changed, making "veteran ballplayers such as myself not as valued."
He immediately signed a six-year, $3 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels after coming over, but did not have his first full season in the majors until 2009. That first season was one to remember for him, as he finished with 34 home runs, 108 RBIs, and a .569 slugging percentage. He also spent time with the Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins, and Kansas City Royals, where he won the World Series in 2015. He is also remembered for the unfortunate incident in 2010, where he tore his ACL while celebrating a walk-off grand slam against the Seattle Mariners. He missed the rest of that season, but still finished his career with a .265 batting average, 213 home runs, and 740 RBIs from both sides of the plate.
