Polarizing Ex-Yankees, Blue Jays Slugger Officially Announces Retirement

The former Yankees slugger officially is calling it a career

One former member of the New York Yankees officially is hanging up his cleats.

Former Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson joined former Yankees hitting coach Sean Casey on his podcast, "The Mayor's Office" and officially announced his retirement Monday.

"It's sad because I'll not be able to go out there and play the game that I love anymore," Donaldson said, "But, it's also (a) very happy time that I get to be around the family and kind of take that next chapter in life." 

Donaldson was one of the best infielders in baseball at one point. He was selected in the first round of the 2007 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft by the Chicago Cubs and eventually made his big league debut in 2010 with the Oakland Athletics. 

The slugger spent the first four seasons of his big league career with Oakland before being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays ahead of the 2015 season. Donaldson had the most success of his career as a member of the Blue Jays. 

Donaldson spent three-plus seasons with the Blue Jays and won the 2015 American League Most Valuable Player Award in his first season with the club. Since leaving the Blue Jays, he spent time with the Cleveland Guardians, Atlanta Braves, Minnesota Twins, Yankees, and Milwaukee Brewers.

The 38-year-old was traded to New York ahead of the 2022 campaign and he struggled. Donaldson appeared in just 165 total games with the Yankees and clubbed 25 home runs and drove in 77 runs. He was released by New York before joining the Brewers.

The three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger Award winner had a great career and now will look for his next opportunity.