Veteran slugger Carlos Quentin retires at 32
Despite signing a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners last month, veteran outfielder Carlos Quentin is done with professional baseball.
Quentin, a two-time All-Star who turns 33 in August, confirmed his retirement in a statement released through the Mariners on Friday.
"Over the past several days, it became clear to me that my injuries have taken too great a physical toll for me to be able to perform at the level I expect from myself," Quentin said. "As a result, I believe it is the right time for me to walk away and refocus my energy on the next chapter of my life with my family."
The last few months have proven rather tumultuous for Quentin, who was traded to Atlanta by the San Diego Padres shortly before Opening Day, but was almost immediately thereafter released by the Braves with a year remaining on his contract.
Still entitled to his $8-million salary for the 2015 campaign – the Braves are responsible for paying him – Quentin landed a minor league deal with Seattle weeks later, but reportedly left the club's Triple-A affiliate Thursday night.
"The game of baseball has allowed me to fulfill many personal and professional goals," he continued. "I want to thank the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox, San Diego Padres and most recently the Seattle Mariners for the opportunity to play the game of baseball professionally."
Selected in the first round of the 2003 draft, Quentin spent parts of nine seasons in the majors, showing considerable power at the plate while battling myriad injuries throughout his career. Across stints with the Padres, White Sox and Diamondbacks, the Stanford product hit .252/.347/.484 (120 OPS+) with 154 home runs in 834 games.
Quentin, though, never appeared in more than 131 games in a single season, and logged just 218 games played over his final three seasons in the majors. Despite his extensive medical history, Quentin finished fifth in American League MVP voting back in 2008 – he hit .288/.394/.571 with 36 homers – and is tied for 24th with a .232 isolated power since his 2006 debut (min. 800 games played).