Bobby Abreu announces his retirement
http://tinyurl.com/m8vxbc6
Bobby Abreu will announce his retirement tonight, according to Kristie Ackert
of the New York Daily News.
Abreu’s career appeared to be over when the Mets designated him for
assignment in early August, but they called up him in September for one last
hurrah.
Abreu ceased being a productive regular in 2011, but he had a dozen-year run
as one of the best all-around hitters in baseball, consistently posting .300
batting averages and .400 on-base percentages with 20-homer power and
30-steal speed.
Overall for his 18-year, 2,423-game career Abreu has an OPS of .870, which is
a higher mark than fellow retirees Paul Konerko (.841) and Derek Jeter (.817).
He was an on-base machine who racked up 2,469 hits with 288 homers and 400
steals. Among all active position players only Jeter and Alex Rodriguez have
gotten on base more times than Abreu’s career total of 3,977 and only
Rodriguez, Jeter, Albert Pujols, Adrian Beltre, Carlos Beltran, and Chase
Utley have a higher Wins Above Replacement total.
Great, underrated player.