Elvis Andrus will probably retire

4 September: It’s about to get more official. According to another article from Grant, Andrus will officially retire as a Ranger on Friday, September 6. He will throw out the first pitch before that day’s game against the Angels.

27.August: Elvis Andrus has been a free agent since the Diamondbacks released him at the end of Spring Training. Although the longtime shortstop has not officially announced his retirement, he appears ready to start a new chapter.

Andrus spoke to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News last week about considering essentially ending his playing career. The 36-year-old told Grant that after his release from Arizona, he initially stayed in shape in case another team offered him an MLB opportunity. After a few weeks, however, he scaled back those training efforts.

“Being in the big leagues was always a blessing, but the game has changed, the players have changed, the teammates have changed,“, Andrus noted. “Everyone is in their early 20s. Everyone I grew up with is out now. In the last five years, I’ve seen all of my closest friends retire. For the last few years, I’ve been asking myself, “When is my time?”

“I thought it was going to be a depressing trip, but it was incredible.” he added. “I really thought it would be harder being away, but I have found peace and am also at peace with the next decision regarding the next trip.“Andrus also told Grant that his three children had expressed throughout the summer that they would prefer him to stay home rather than continue looking for play opportunities.

Assuming that this really marks the end of Andrus’ playing career, then it is the end of a very good career. Andrus was signed by the Braves as an amateur from Venezuela and quickly developed into a top talent. He and Jarrod Saltalamacchia was the main attraction of Texas in the 2007 blockbuster, the Mark Teixeira to Atlanta.

Andrus reached the majors before his 21st birthday. He developed into the Rangers’ shortstop in 2009 and hit .267 in 145 games. Andrus finished second behind Andrew Bailey in the Rookie of the Year voting that season. He was voted an All-Star in his second year and was the starting shortstop for Texas in back-to-back championship victories from 2010 to 2011. Andrus had more than 30 stolen bases in each of his first three MLB seasons. He was voted an All-Star for a second time with a .286/.349/.378 slash line in 2012.

The Rangers signed Andrus to be their franchise shortstop at the start of the 2013 season. Texas signed him to an eight-year contract with $120 million guaranteed and two opt-outs. Andrus remained a fixture in the Rangers infield, playing strong shortstop, posting high averages and playing nearly every game. While he was never a major power threat, he managed 20 home runs with a .297/.337/.471 slash line and 88 RBIs in a 2017 season that was arguably his best.

Andrus appeared in at least 145 games in each of his first nine seasons. He stole at least 20 bases in all of those years. His offensive productivity fluctuated a bit, but he remained an average or better player overall throughout the 2010s. His numbers dropped during the shortened 2020 season, prompting Texas to send him to the A’s in a contract swap. Chris Davis This also brought the future starting catcher Jonah Home.

After spending a year and a half in Oakland, Andrus started with the White Sox late in the 2022 season. He pitched well over 43 games for Chicago in the final stretch and returned to the Sox last year, hitting .251/.304/.358 while splitting his time between shortstop and second baseman in what appears to be his final major league stint.

Andrus will be remembered most for his 12-year career with the Rangers. He had more than 7,000 at-bats, batted .274/.330/.372 and stole 305 bases. He eventually pitched more than 17,000 innings as a shortstop as a starter on five playoff teams for Texas. Andrus reached two milestones in his final season: surpassing 2,000 career hits and 100 home runs. Baseball Reference credited him with 34 Wins Above Replacement, while FanGraphs rated him at 36 WAR.

Grant also talks to the Hall of Fame third baseman Adrian BeltreAndrus’ longtime infield colleague and close friend, on the shortstop’s impact on the Rangers. Texas fans in particular will want to read the Dallas Morning News column in full. Grant suggests that the Rangers could induct Andrus into the organization’s Hall of Fame once he officially announces his retirement. If this is the end of his playing career, MLBTR congratulates him on a stellar career and sends him best wishes for his post-playing endeavors.

Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.