It’s a sad day for scrappiness.
According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, veteran infielder David Eckstein has decided to retire from baseball “even though there were teams willing to bring him to camp” on a minor league contract.
Eckstein, 37, will finish up with a .280/.345/.355 career batting line. The 5-foot-6 shortstop and second baseman was named an All-Star twice and won the World Series MVP in 2006 after going 8-for-22 (.364) with three doubles, a walk and four RBI in the Cardinals’ five-game victory over the Tigers.
Eckstein played for St. Louis, Anaheim, San Diego, Arizona and Toronto during his 10-year MLB career.
UPDATE: Eckstein’s agent denied Cafardo’s report, telling Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com that his client is willing to comtinue his playing career “if the right opportunity arises.”
