MLB News: Rafael Soriano Set To Retire After 14 Seasons

Longtime relief pitcher Rafael Soriano is set to retire from baseball despite having signed a minor-league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays a few weeks ago, according to James Wagner of the Washington Post. Soriano had not yet reported to Blue Jays camp, as he was experiencing visa issues, MLB Trade Rumors noted.

From former Nat dept.: hearing Rafael Soriano, who had a minor lg deal with Toronto, is retiring. Last full year in MLB was w/ Nats in ’14.

— James Wagner (@JamesWagnerWP) March 18, 2016

If he made the team, Soriano was set to earn $750,000 at the MLB level. He was looking to re-establish himself after a poor two-year stretch, where his performance faltered.

While Soriano’s last full season came in 2014, he did pitch last season after signing a minor-league deal with the Chicago Cubs last June. He was called up to the Cubs’ major league roster, but shoulder problems and poor performance limited him to just six appearances. After going 2-0 with a 6.35 ERA through five-and-two-thirds innings, the Cubs released Soriano on September 1, 2015.

Soriano, 36, leaves baseball after being one of the most dominant relievers over the past decade. Several injuries hampered Soriano until his emergence in 2006, pitching to a 2.25 ERA in 53 games out of the Seattle Mariners’ bullpen. Soriano was traded to the Atlanta Braves the following year after spending almost a decade in the Mariners’ system.

Soriano enjoyed modest success with the Braves until he received a regular chance to close games. When veteran closer Bob Wickman was designated for assignment in 2009, Soriano took over as the Braves’ closer. He finished that season with 27 saves and a 2.97 ERA in 52 games.

After the season, Soriano was traded yet again, this time to the Tampa Bay Rays. The trade allowed Soriano to become a full-time closer, and he made the best of that opportunity. Soriano appeared in 64 games that year, pitching to a career-best 1.73 ERA and notching an American League leading 45 saves for the Rays. His performance earned him his first — and only — All-Star team selection and the AL Rolaids Reliever of the Year award.

A free agent at the end of the year, Soriano chose a good time to have the best season of his career. He earned himself a three-year, $35 million contract with the New York Yankees. The only catch was that Mariano Rivera was still the Yankees’ closer, thus making Soriano the team’s set-up man.

In his first season in pinstripes, Soriano couldn’t replicate the success he enjoyed in Tampa Bay. Injuries limited Soriano to just 39-and-one-third innings and a 4.12 ERA, the highest of his career over the course of a full season. The next season, however, Soriano was arguably the Yankees’ MVP.

When Rivera went down with a torn ACL, causing him to miss the rest of 2012 season, Soriano stepped up as the closer, notching 42 saves with a 2.26 ERA. He opted out of the final year of his original three-year deal, signing a two-year, $28 million deal with the Washington Nationals.

Soriano enjoyed a brilliant season-and-a-half with the Nationals, notching 75 saves for the team. Unfortunately, a brutal finish to the 2014 campaign that included pitching to a 6.98 ERA after the All-Star break facilitated Soriano being removed as closer, per ESPN.

Soriano retires from the game having notched 636-and-one-third innings, a 2.89 ERA, and 207 saves.

As for the Blue Jays, the team still has non-roster invitees such as David Aardsma, Randy Choate, Scott Diamond, Roberto Hernandez, and Wade LeBlanc in camp. They are all competing for spots in the Blue Jays’ bullpen, and Soriano’s retirement increases their chances of making the club.

In addition to Soriano, veteran first baseman/designated hitter Adam LaRochoe also retired this week after a dispute regarding the frequency of his son being in the clubhouse.

[Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images]