Two weeks ago Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported that Edgar Renteria planned to play this season, but that is apparently no longer the case.
Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com spoke to Renteria’s agent and writes that the 35-year-old “does not plan to play this season and is leaning toward retirement.”
His lack of job options no doubt played a part, as Renteria is no longer a capable shortstop defensively and hit just .251 with a .306 on-base percentage and .348 slugging percentage in 96 games for the Reds last season. According to his agent two NL teams offered a minor-league deal, but Renteria passed and will instead wait a while to see if he changes his mind.
He once looked like a darkhorse candidate for 3,000 career hits, but Renteria ceased being an effective everyday player at age 30. That season, 2007, he batted .332 for the Braves and already had 1,934 hits, but since then he’s played 430 games spread over four seasons while batting just .261 with a .672 OPS.