Evan Longoria Retires After 16 MLB Seasons, Will Sign 1-Day Rays Contract on June 7

Veteran third baseman Evan Longoria is officially calling it a career.

MLB announced Monday that Longoria is retiring after 16 seasons and will sign a ceremonial one-day contract with the Tampa Bay Rays on June 7 to end his career with the team with which he began.

“Evan Longoria embodies what it means to be a Tampa Bay Ray. From the moment he stepped on the field, he brought excellence, leadership and a competitive spirit that shaped the identity of this franchise,” Rays owner Stuart Sternberg said in a statement, via MLB.com. “He, more than anyone, helped transform the Devil Rays into the Rays, and we are honored to welcome him home as he retires in the uniform where it all began.”

Longoria last appeared in MLB in 2023 with the Arizona Diamondbacks after signing a one-year deal with the team.

Longoria told Marc Tompkins of the Tampa Bay Times in July 2024 that he didn't expect to continue his professional baseball career despite not officially retiring. He ultimately decided to make the end of his career official on Monday.

The 39-year-old sat out the entire 2024 season and appeared in just 74 games in 2023 due to a back injury and Arizona's platoon at third base. It was his fourth straight season that he played in less than 100 games, and he hit just .223 with 11 home runs and 28 RBI. His batting average was the lowest of his career.

During Arizona's surprising run to the 2023 World Series, Longoria appeared in 16 out of 17 postseason games and hit .167 with four RBI. The Diamondbacks lost to the Texas Rangers in five games.

The three-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove Award winner began his career with the Rays and made his major league debut in 2008. He was named American League Rookie of the Year that season and helped the Rays advance to the World Series for the first time in franchise history, where they lost to the Philadelphia Phillies.

After spending the first 10 years of his career in Tampa Bay, Longoria was traded to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for four prospects. He joined the 300 HR Club in 2020 in a game against the Diamondbacks.

While Longoria's lone year in Arizona was not up to his standards, his homer against the Rays in June 2023 gave him the distinction of hitting a home run against all 30 MLB teams. He ends his career with 1,930 hits, 342 home runs and 1,159 RBI.

Longoria will now get to kick his feet up and enjoy some well-deserved rest in his retirement.