Vlad Guerrero to retire

[ChaosLex]

Just saw the news on Twitter that he's calling it quits.

Would've loved to have him in his prime. Kinda surreal that the last time he was in the majors, it was as an Oriole.

[oriolekid]

I'll never forget this

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=6106853

[Frobby]

I'm sorry to see him out of baseball, but it would have burned me if he had come back with the Blue Jays and produced better than he did with us. In that sense, I'm relieved that he's retiring.

[waroriole]

Great career. No doubt Hall of Famer, IMO.

[Palmoripken]

Even though he struggled his year with us, it was still cool seeing Vlad in Oriole black and orange. Loved watching him play in his prime. Exciting player and a future HoFer.

[EagleOriole]

I heard yesterday that Vlad is one of a few professional athletes that has invested well enough to support the 8 kids from 5 mothers! Apparently he pays $25,000 to each each month in child support...something crazy like that.

He was a great player, fun to watch for most of his career and I wish him well in supporting those kids in the future.

[RebouletThrow]

Latest news says that he is not yet opting out... He wants to be brought up to the majors. If he's not, then he'll most likely opt out of the contract and retire.

Source:

http://mlbbuzz.yardbarker.com/blog/mlbbuzz/latest_on_vlad/10995002?new_post=true

[Pickles]

If he does retire, I think the big question here in Baltimore is: Does he go into the Hall wearing an O's cap?

[Can_of_corn]

A year too late in my book. He should have ended it on a high note.

[DrungoHazewood]

It's awesome that he had 50 minor league PAs this year and hasn't walked. In fact, you have to go back across six minor league teams and various rehab assignments to find his last minor league walk.

[Pickles]

It's awesome that he had 50 minor league PAs this year and hasn't walked. In fact, you have to go back across six minor league teams and various rehab assignments to find his last minor league walk.

Didn't he reel off close to a 100 abs to start the year last season w/o drawing a walk?

Vlad Guerrero doesn't go up there to walk. Especially when he's DHing in the MiLs; he's going to get his hacks in.

[Rene88]

Does anyone know what happened? I remember Thorne talking about the Blue Jays were about to bring him up because he was tearing it up down there....

[Aglets]

He has only played in 11 minor league games so far this year. He hit 4 HR in 4 games at high-A.

Seems like it's a tad early for him to suddenly throw in the towel, unless TOR is telling him that they don't need him now and he wants to opt out to get to the majors somewhere else.

I'm sure he thinks in his mind he still has a shot at 500 HR (51 away) and 3,000 hits (410 away).

[Aglets]

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/8041892/vladimir-guerrero-leaves-toronto-blue-jays-minor-league-team

Apparently the Jays had a sort of deadline date to promote Vlad to the majors, I guess built into his contract. The date passed, they didn't promote Vlad, so he just packed up his bags and left AAA. Very interesting to see if another team goes after him now. You figure it will have to be an AL team right. Who could use a DH?

The teams with the worst OPS at the DH position this season are:

Tampa - .650

Oakland - .650

Detroit - .604

Seattle - .550

There are some potential playoff teams in there......hmmmmm.......

[DrungoHazewood]

I'm sure he thinks in his mind he still has a shot at 500 HR (51 away) and 3,000 hits (410 away).

Last year he was a replacement-level DH at 36. 51 homers and 410 hits are an eternity away.