Every year, we’ve become accustomed to say goodbye to baseball players who have been playing for many years. That’s been no different in 2025, as several former stars of Major League Baseball have ended their playing careers. Among the notables include two former Cardinals stars, plus a third baseman and former ace, both of whom could be in Cooperstown one day.
Notable Retirements in 2025-26
| Name | Position | Career WAR |
|---|---|---|
| Nick Ahmed | INF | 11.2 |
| Tucker Barnhart | C | 6.8 |
| Daniel Bard | RP | 8.4 |
| Trevor Cahill | SP/RP | 11.7 |
| Matt Carpenter | INF/OF | 28.7 |
| Curt Casali | C | 6.6 |
| Jesse Chavez | RP | 6.4 |
| Garrett Cooper | 1B | 3.7 |
| Jake Diekman | RP | 3.2 |
| David Fletcher | INF | 10.3 |
| Freddy Galvis | INF | 9.3 |
| Kyle Gibson | SP | 14.6 |
| Josh Harrison | INF/OF | 16.1 |
| Andrew Heaney | SP | 7.7 |
| Kyle Hendricks | SP | 22.8 |
| Travis Jankowski | OF | 4.0 |
| Joe Kelly | RP | 5.3 |
| Clayton Kershaw | SP | 80.1 |
| Tony Kemp | INF/OF | 3.7 |
| Evan Longoria | 3B | 58.9 |
| Lance Lynn | SP | 30.0 |
| Martin Maldonado | C | 6.0 |
| Whit Merrifield | INF/OF | 17.8 |
| Mike Moustakas | INF | 12.7 |
| Austin Nola | C | 4.4 |
| Brett Phillips | OF | 4.4 |
| Kevin Pillar | OF | 16.1 |
| Wilson Ramos | C | 15.3 |
| Anthony Rizzo | 1B | 40.4 |
| Jean Segura | INF | 26.3 |
| Dan Straily | SP | 5.2 |
| Michael A. Taylor | OF | 12.6 |
| Alex Wood | SP | 13.4 |
| Kolten Wong | INF | 22.9 |
Garrett Cooper, David Fletcher, Travis Jankowski, Martin Maldonado, Brett Phillips, Kyle Hendricks, and Michael A. Taylor are the most recent names added to this list.
Hendricks, who spent 2025 with the Angels, spent 12 years as a Major League pitcher. While Hendricks wasn’t a hard-thrower, “The Professor” was highly effective thanks to his ability to manipulate the baseball, whether it be with his two-seam or signature changeup(s). Hendricks’ signature season came in 2016 when he won 16 games, was a NL Cy Young finalist, and won the World Series with the Cubs.
Maldonado was originally added to Leones de Escogido’s roster this October for LIDOM. He posted on social media late in October that his career is over.
Taylor, who played with the White Sox in 2025, retires as a Gold Glove winner and 2019 World Series champion. Cooper, who last played in 2024 with the Red Sox, was a 2022 NL All-Star.
Phillips played for the Rays during their run to the World Series in 2020, and drove in the game-winning run in Game 4 of that series off Kenley Jansen.
Fletcher, who didn’t play in the Majors in 2025, spent the last two seasons of his career in the Braves’ organization after he was traded from the Angels to Atlanta in a salary dump deal. Arguably his best season came in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season when Fletcher posted a .801 OPS. He finished in the top 20 in the AL MVP vote that year.
Jankowski’s playing career ended when he joined the Rangers’ coaching staff as the team’s new first base coach. The former first-rounder had a lengthy career, mainly used as a backup outfielder and defensive replacement.
He wasn’t the only Major Leaguer from 2025 to immediately jump to coaching. Austin Nola, who played 14 games with the Rockies this past season and spent parts of six seasons in the Majors, joined the Mariners’ coaching staff. Nola started his MLB career with Seattle back in 2019.
The most notable name on this list, though, is Clayton Kershaw, the three-time Cy Young Award winner who will retire after the 2025 campaign.
Kershaw, from statistical and accolades standpoints, did it all. He won the pitching triple crown, an MVP, the aforementioned three Cy Youngs, a Gold Glove, and a World Series title in 2020 (he was not on the active roster in 2024).
Among active players (as of 2025), Kershaw ranked third in bWAR, behind only Justin Verlander (82.1) and Mike Trout (86.8)
Before him was Anthony Rizzo, who officially announced his retirement in mid-September. Rizzo played his last season in 2024 with the Yankees, where he spent his final three and a half seasons.
Rizzo ended his career as a three-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glover, and 2016 World Series champion with the Cubs. His last game was in the 2024 World Series with the Yankees.
Aside from Rizzo, several other notables retired in 2025, including his ex-Yankee teammate Matt Carpenter.
Carpenter manufactured a strong career as a infielder/utilityman. The 39-year-old was a three-time All-Star, hit a career-best 36 home runs in 2018, and played on the Cardinals’ NL pennant-winning team in 2013.
He spent much of his time playing in St. Louis with Lance Lynn, who retired in April. Lynn struck out 2,015 career batters, finished in the top-six of the Cy Young three times, and proved to be a workhouse for much of his career.
A former first-round pick, Lynn tossed over 120 innings in 10 of his 13 MLB season. And in the shortened 2020 campaign, Lynn led all pitchers in innings thrown (84).
Former Royal Mike Moustakas joined his 2015 World Series teammate Eric Hosmer, who retired two years ago, as the former ended his career in May. Moustakas did so by signing a one-day contract on May 31 to retire as a Royal, the team that drafted him in 2007.
While Moustakas had a big season in 2019, one that saw him blast 35 home runs, “Moose” had most of his best years with Kansas City. He hit 2022 home runs during Kansas City’s 2015 championship season, and a career-high 38 two years later.
Evan Longoria, meanwhile, retired as a Ray. Two years after his final season with the Diamondbacks, Longoria retired with the team that drafted him on June 7.
Out of all the names above (aside from Kershaw, a likely lock), Longoria likely has the best shot of making it to the Hall of Fame. Longoria has a career Wins Above Replacement (WAR) higher than several players in Cooperstown, including Luis Aparicio and David Ortiz.
Over a decade ago, one could argue Longoria was on a glide path, as he was one of 10 players in MLB history with 25+ bWAR over the first four years of their career. Longoria put himself along the likes of Eddie Mathews, Wade Boggs, and Johnny Mize.
While his offensive numbers went south over the last few years of his career, Longoria finished with 342 career home runs, a Rookie of the Year award, a Silver Slugger, and three Gold Gloves.
Aside from those names, several other notable MLB vets called it a career in 2025.
Trevor Cahill, who was pitching in indy ball and last threw a MLB pitch in 2021, retired this summer. Freddy Galvis, who also last played in the Majors four years ago, retired this summer.
Kyle Gibson, who re-signed with the Orioles this past March and threw 12.1 IP for Baltimore in 2025, also retired.
Whit Merrifield, who didn’t latch on to a team in 2025, ended his career in June 2025.
Kevin Pillar retired in July. Pillar originally stated his intention to retire after 2024 but didn’t, as he signed with the Rangers this winter. Pillar played 20 games with Texas this season. He joined Nick Ahmed, who also played with Texas this season, as recently-retired players.
Journeyman left-hander Alex Wood retired from playing in August 2025.
One player not listed on the above table is Yasmani Grandal. Grandal has not officially retired. However, he left the Red Sox organization — he was with the team’s Triple-A affiliate — and placed on the restricted list, with the expectation his career is over. Grandal was released in the fall.
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