Elvis Andrus has been a free agent for the reason that Diamondbacks launched him on the finish of Spring Coaching. Whereas the longtime shortstop has not made any official retirement announcement, it appears he’s ready to start out a brand new chapter.
Andrus spoke with Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning Information final week in regards to the concerns in all however formally ending his enjoying profession. The 36-year-old advised Grant that he’d initially stayed in form after being launched by Arizona in case one other staff introduced him with an MLB alternative. After just a few weeks, he pulled again on these coaching efforts.
“Being within the large leagues was all the time a blessing, however the recreation has modified, gamers have modified, teammates modified,” Andrus famous. “Everyone is of their early 20s. Everyone I grew up with is out now. The final 5 years, I’ve seen all the fellows that had been my closest mates retire. Over the previous couple of years, I discovered myself considering: ‘When is it going to be my time?’
“I believed this was going to be a miserable journey, but it surely’s been wonderful,” he added. “I actually thought it was going to be more durable to be away, however I’ve actually been at peace and I’m at peace with the subsequent determination in regards to the subsequent journey.” Andrus additionally advised Grant that his three youngsters have expressed all through the summer time that they’d favor he keep house somewhat than proceed to pursue enjoying alternatives.
Assuming this certainly marks the tip of Andrus’ enjoying days, it’s the conclusion of an excellent profession. Signed by the Braves as an newbie out of Venezuela, Andrus rapidly developed right into a high prospect.He and Jarrod Saltalamacchia headlined Texas’ return within the 2007 blockbuster that despatched Mark Teixeira to Atlanta.
Andrus reached the majors earlier than his twenty first birthday. He emerged because the Rangers beginning shortstop by ’09, hitting .267 throughout 145 video games. Andrus completed runner-up behind Andrew Bailey in that season’s Rookie of the 12 months voting. He earned an All-Star nod throughout his sophomore marketing campaign and was the on a regular basis shortstop on Texas’ consecutive pennant winners between 2010-11. Andrus topped 30 stolen bases in every of his first three MLB seasons. He earned a second All-Star nod with a .286/.349/.378 displaying in 2012.
The Rangers dedicated to Andrus as their franchise shortstop early within the 2013 season. Texas inked him to an eight-year cope with a $120MM assure and a pair of opt-out possibilities. Andrus remained a fixture of the Ranger infield. He performed a robust shortstop whereas hitting for prime averages and enjoying practically each recreation. Whereas he was by no means an enormous energy menace, he received to twenty homers with a .297/.337/.471 slash and 88 RBI in a 2017 season that was arguably his greatest.
Andrus appeared in a minimum of 145 video games in every of his first 9 seasons. He stole a minimum of 20 luggage in all of these years. His offensive productiveness was a bit up-and-down, however he remained a median or higher general participant all through the 2010s. His numbers dropped off in the course of the shortened 2020 marketing campaign, main Texas to ship him to the A’s in a contract swap involving Khris Davis that additionally netted future beginning catcher Jonah Heim.
After spending a yr and a half in Oakland, Andrus caught on with the White Sox late within the 2022 season. He hit properly over 43 video games for Chicago down the stretch and returned to the Sox final yr. He hit .251/.304/.358 whereas splitting time between shortstop and second base in what appears to be like to be his closing main league motion.
Andrus can be greatest remembered for his 12-year run with the Rangers. He tallied greater than 7000 plate appearances, hitting .274/.330/.372 whereas stealing 305 bases. A daily on 5 playoff groups for Texas, he finally logged greater than 17,000 innings at shortstop. Andrus checked off a pair of milestones in his closing season, surpassing 2000 profession hits and 100 house runs. Baseball Reference credited him with 34 wins above alternative, whereas FanGraphs graded him at 36 WAR.
Grant additionally chats with Corridor of Fame third baseman Adrian Beltré, Andrus’ longtime infield mate and shut buddy, in regards to the shortstop’s influence on the Rangers. Texas followers, specifically, will need to learn the Dallas Morning Information column in full. Grant suggests the Rangers may enshrine Andrus within the organizational Corridor of Fame as soon as he formally broadcasts his retirement. If that is the tip of his enjoying days, MLBTR congratulates him on a superb profession and sends our greatest needs for his post-playing endeavors.
Picture courtesy of USA At this time Sports activities.
