Every year, we say goodbye to some of the most significant names to play Major League Baseball. Just in the last three years, Joey Votto, Miguel Cabrera, and Clayton Kershaw were among the likely future Hall of Famers to call it quits. And in 2026, Justin Verlander will, as well. Verlander is among the players on the list of notable retirements from the year.
Notable Retirements in 2026-27
| Name | 2026 Team (If Applicable) | Career bWAR |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Anderson | N/A | 15.4 |
| Jason Heyward | N/A | 41.5 |
| J.D. Martinez | N/A | 30.8 |
| T.J. McFarland | N/A | .3 |
| Brandon Phillips | Reds | 28.9 |
| Miguel Rojas | Dodgers | 19.5 |
| Chris Taylor | Angels | 16.3 |
| Gio Urshela | N/A | 8.4 |
| Justin Verlander | Tigers | 81.8 |
The big one on this list is Justin Verlander, who announced that he will retire at the end of 2026 on July 8. It coincided with his addition to the 2026 All-Star Game as a legacy pick by the Commissioner’s Office.
Verlander, who turned 43 in February, entered the year with 266 career wins, the most among active pitchers and the one who was the closest to 300 wins in almost 20 years. The last pitcher to hit that marker was Randy Johnson in 2009 with the Giants.
Nonetheless, he will retire as one of the most decorated pitchers of all time. A two-time World Series champion (2017 & 2022), a three-time AL Cy Young winner, a nine-time All-Star, and a member of the 3,500-strikeout club are among just some of Verlander’s accolades.
It’s the second-straight year that a pitcher who struck out at least 3,000 in his career called it quits. Clayton Kershaw, who won his third World Series title in 2025 with the Dodgers, did so last season.
Aside from Verlander, the most notable to hang it up in 2026 was Jason Heyward, who did so at the start of the 2026 season. Heyward, one of the most-hyped prospects over the last 20 years, retired as a five-time Gold Glove winner and a World Series champion with the Chicago Cubs.
J.D. Martinez, one of the most prolific sluggers of his era, retired and joined the Mets’ front office as an advisor earlier this year.
Gio Urshela & Chris Taylor, two of the most successful utilitymen of the last decade, retired in 2026. Taylor was playing in the Angels’ system in 2026.
Brandon Phillips, who last played in 2018 before a tour in independent ball, officially retired as a Red after he signed a one-day contract earlier this year.
On August 10, former White Sox infielder Tim Anderson announced his big-league retirement after 10 years. He last played in the Majors during the 2025 campaign.
Miguel Rojas announced in 2025 that the 2026 season would be his last in the Majors. He will work with the Dodgers on the player development side once his playing career concludes.
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