cardsunsfan
ASFN Lifer
To exdiamondbacks... didn't know Bautista was that old...
Roberto Alomar and Danny Bautista retire..
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spikecop02
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Danny Bautista was signed in January to start in the outfield for the Devil Rays, while Alex Gonzalez signed on Saturday morning to give Tampa Bay some additional outfield depth.
But an hour or so after the announcement of Sanchez's signing, Bautista announced he was retiring, thrusting the team's new acquisition into the starting picture.
On Jan. 13, the Devil Rays signed Bautista to a one-year, $1.9 million contract, primarily because of the knee injury to incumbent center fielder Rocco Baldelli, who is expected to be out until the middle of the season.
But Bautista, 32, has been suffering from a painful left ankle, and the pain has not gotten any better this spring, prompting him to announce his retirement prior to Saturday's contest between the Devil Rays and Phillies at Progress Energy Park.
"I've been playing with a lot of pain the last four or five years," Bautista said. "And I've really got a bad ankle, and it's really affecting my back and my knee. I've taken treatment and another treatment ... the thing hasn't gotten any better.
"So I've decided to go home and spend some time with my family and my kids -- see my kids grow, take them to school, take them to the field -- help them out. I've decided to do that."
Bautista said the injury has made it difficult to compete.
"I like to compete. I'm the type of player who always gave 100 percent," Bautista said. "This is a time right now where I feel like I can't compete -- can't give my 100 percent because I'm uncomfortable. ... I gave the baseball game all I got. I went hard. I'm proud."
Bautista retires a .272 career hitter after playing in parts of 12 seasons with Detroit, Atlanta, Florida and Arizona. In 2004, he played in a career-high 141 games and posted career-best figures in home runs (11), RBIs (65) and at-bats (539) as the Diamondbacks' everyday right fielder. During that season, he enjoyed a 21-game hitting streak that lasted from April 7-30. He hit a torrid .390 during the streak. Bautista hit .300 for most of the season, before a season-ending 3-for-32 slide dropped his average to .286.
Devil Rays general manager Chuck LaMar said the team signed Bautista "knowing he was one of the class acts in the game."
"To have him come in today and retire is a tough blow, and his shoes are going to be hard to fill," LaMar said. "But his honesty and the class with the way he handled it was extremely good."
Sanchez, 28, was released on Tuesday by the Tigers. He batted a career-high .322 in 79 games with Detroit last season, and he led the American League with 29 bunt singles. A native of Cuba, Sanchez began his professional career with the Devil Rays, and his 280 steals as a Tampa Bay farmhand are the most in club history.
Given the Rays' outfield situation, Sanchez could now play a more prominent role than originally thought. "Obviously he has Major League experience, [and] he's a good offensive player," LaMar said. "And we're glad to have him. But we're going to be on the lookout for another outfielder -- and we've got a couple of weeks to do it."
But an hour or so after the announcement of Sanchez's signing, Bautista announced he was retiring, thrusting the team's new acquisition into the starting picture.
On Jan. 13, the Devil Rays signed Bautista to a one-year, $1.9 million contract, primarily because of the knee injury to incumbent center fielder Rocco Baldelli, who is expected to be out until the middle of the season.
But Bautista, 32, has been suffering from a painful left ankle, and the pain has not gotten any better this spring, prompting him to announce his retirement prior to Saturday's contest between the Devil Rays and Phillies at Progress Energy Park.
"I've been playing with a lot of pain the last four or five years," Bautista said. "And I've really got a bad ankle, and it's really affecting my back and my knee. I've taken treatment and another treatment ... the thing hasn't gotten any better.
"So I've decided to go home and spend some time with my family and my kids -- see my kids grow, take them to school, take them to the field -- help them out. I've decided to do that."
Bautista said the injury has made it difficult to compete.
"I like to compete. I'm the type of player who always gave 100 percent," Bautista said. "This is a time right now where I feel like I can't compete -- can't give my 100 percent because I'm uncomfortable. ... I gave the baseball game all I got. I went hard. I'm proud."
Bautista retires a .272 career hitter after playing in parts of 12 seasons with Detroit, Atlanta, Florida and Arizona. In 2004, he played in a career-high 141 games and posted career-best figures in home runs (11), RBIs (65) and at-bats (539) as the Diamondbacks' everyday right fielder. During that season, he enjoyed a 21-game hitting streak that lasted from April 7-30. He hit a torrid .390 during the streak. Bautista hit .300 for most of the season, before a season-ending 3-for-32 slide dropped his average to .286.
Devil Rays general manager Chuck LaMar said the team signed Bautista "knowing he was one of the class acts in the game."
"To have him come in today and retire is a tough blow, and his shoes are going to be hard to fill," LaMar said. "But his honesty and the class with the way he handled it was extremely good."
Sanchez, 28, was released on Tuesday by the Tigers. He batted a career-high .322 in 79 games with Detroit last season, and he led the American League with 29 bunt singles. A native of Cuba, Sanchez began his professional career with the Devil Rays, and his 280 steals as a Tampa Bay farmhand are the most in club history.
Given the Rays' outfield situation, Sanchez could now play a more prominent role than originally thought. "Obviously he has Major League experience, [and] he's a good offensive player," LaMar said. "And we're glad to have him. But we're going to be on the lookout for another outfielder -- and we've got a couple of weeks to do it."
AZZenny
Registered User
A quick tip o' the hat to Danny B. He always hustled, he was a team guy, good clubhouse man, and he isn't unrealistically trying to force his career to go on and on. Be nice if he could be offered some role with the DBacks' - maybe with their Dominican Academy - because he was a good role model for younger guys.
That said, I'm extra glad the FO didn't resign him.
That said, I'm extra glad the FO didn't resign him.
A good future to ya, Danny.... He was awesome in the 2001 WS.... 
schillingfan
All Star
Does anyone think Danny B's retirement might be due to positive steroid testing?
The walking away is strange.
The walking away is strange.
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schillingfan said:
According to him, its because of his ankles.
http://tampabay.devilrays.mlb.com/N..._id=971491&vkey=spt2005news&fext=.jsp&c_id=tb
Best wishes to both - especially Danny B!
jmcclain19
Newbie
I could see Bautista, because he's only 32, being like a Ruben Sierra/Eric Davis type. Leave the game early for a few years, then return in your mid to late 30s once you've had a good long while to let those injuries fully heal.
Baseball players always will have that itch, and even at a league minimum/minor league contract the money is better than what you'd make selling insurance or real estate.
Baseball players always will have that itch, and even at a league minimum/minor league contract the money is better than what you'd make selling insurance or real estate.
Moose Lady
Veteran
schillingfan said:
He could be doing that but the one I could almost guarantee doing it is of course Mr. Bonds. Kinda funny isn't it, that he is either gonna sit out this year or retire. Sounds like he's afraid if he plays this year and doesn't get his *required* number of homers( which of course he probably wouldn't get) people will know for certain that he used and then everyone will want that * by his name.
FinleyLover
Veteran
Of everyone current or past, the two that I always suspected of 'roids were Danny B and Junior. This year is definitely going to be anything but boring!!
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