5 big-name players who could retire next

Baseball is unfortunately saying goodbye to a large number of notable faces once the 2016 season ends.

This list includes perhaps the greatest designated hitter ever in David Ortiz, one excellent first baseman in Mark Teixeira, a beloved slugger in Prince Fielder, and, likely, the most polarizing figure of the past two decades in Alex Rodriguez. Heck, it's not even limited to on-field personnel, as legendary broadcaster Vin Scully will leave the booth after October.

Ortiz, Teixeira, and Rodriguez could all headline the 2022 Hall of Fame ballot together. Who will follow them in 2023 and the years beyond remains in doubt, but there are plenty of other veterans getting on in years who are writing the final chapters of their careers.

Here's a look at five other veterans who could very well be the next players to retire.

Bartolo Colon

Who doesn't love Big Sexy?

Since revitalizing his career in Oakland, the 43-year-old's gone on to become a beloved cult figure with the Mets. He loses his helmet, he miraculously homers, he miraculously takes walks once every 282 plate appearances. Oh yeah, he's also still pitching effectively for a contender and was named an All-Star well into his fourth decade of life.

Colon's on record saying he wants to play "just one more" year before calling it quits, and assuming that happens, it will be a sad day for baseball, as the sport will lose one of its most endearing characters.

Ichiro Suzuki

Like a fine wine, Ichiro has aged gracefully through the years, and it's culminated in a remarkable 2016 season that's seen him reach the 3,000-hit mark in just his 16th major-league campaign.

The 42-year-old's even starting for the Marlins right now thanks to Giancarlo Stanton's injury. Though Ichiro has said he wants to play until he's 50 - and almost no baseball fan would object to this - a quinquagenarian ballplayer is exceedingly rare. Only Jack Quinn was a semi-regular past the age of 50, making 14 appearances for Cincinnati in 1933; considering it's only happened once in the 140-year history of Major League Baseball, it's highly likely Ichiro won't make it to 50, and will say farewell in the next few years.

Chase Utley

One of the best second basemen of this generation is getting a little long in the tooth. But that hasn't sapped his production, as Utley's had a rebirth in Los Angeles with a .255/.329/.396 line this season for the contending Dodgers, and he proved again Tuesday he's capable of having a very big night. The 37-year-old wants to keep playing, and should have no trouble finding work in 2017; it's 2018 and beyond that's the question.

Should Utley hang around, though, he could pad his stats with an eye towards Cooperstown consideration down the road.

CC Sabathia

Once upon a time, Sabathia was seen as the next 300-game winner.

Now, not so much.

The 36-year-old owns a 4.20 ERA and just 98 strikeouts in 2016 as his Yankee career winds down, and it's unclear what will happen when he reaches free agency in the winter. Surely somebody will take a chance on him given his age, the fact he throws with his left arm, and his ability to provide solid production from the No. 5 spot in the rotation - but baseball's a business, and nothing's a guarantee in this world.

Whether he finds a new home or walks away, Sabathia's left an impressive resume, even if the Hall isn't in the cards anymore.

Carlos Beltran

Beltran's winding down his career in Texas as - what else? - a hired gun for October.

Or is he winding it down?

This season's been a revival for the 39-year-old, as he's cemented his legacy among the greatest switch-hitters of all time. This past winter, before he began the final year of his contract, Beltran mused about retiring after 2016; with his success at the plate this year, who knows if his mind has been changed.

A postseason swan song would be perfect for the best playoff hitter of the last decade, and if he wins a World Series with the Rangers there's a good possibility he could walk away on top.