Blue Jays’ DeRosa retires after 16-year career

Mark DeRosa is one of the most popular veterans on the Toronto Blue Jays. (REUTERS/Mark Blinch)

TORONTO — Toronto Blue Jays infielder Mark DeRosa is retiring after a 16-year career.

The 38-year-old veteran batted .235 in 88 games for Toronto last season his lone year as a Blue Jay.

The native of Passaic, N.J., finishes his career with a .268 average and 494 runs batted in over 1,241 games with Atlanta, Texas, the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland, St. Louis, San Francisco, Washington and Toronto.

He appeared in the playoffs six different times — three times with Atlanta, twice with the Cubs and once with the Cardinals.

DeRosa’s decision to retire comes less than two weeks after the Blue Jays exercised the US$750,000 club option on his contract with hopes of bringing him back for the 2014 season.

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