Joe Mauer announces retirement in letter to fans

Minnesota Twins first baseman Joe Mauer has played his last game.

Mauer wrote a letter to Twins fans that the team published on their website Friday.

According to Phil Miller and La Velle Neal of the Star Tribune, Mauer is also announcing his retirement in a full-page newspaper ad set to run in Sunday’s Star Tribune, blaming concussions for pushing him into the decision.

“After much consideration I have decided to retire from playing baseball,” Mauer says in the ad. “The decision came down to my health and my family. The risk of concussion is always there, and I was reminded of that this season after missing over 30 games as a result of diving for a foul ball.”

The decision is not a surprise. Mauer openly mused about retirement during the season, with his contract poised to expire at the end of the year. The fact that he briefly took the field at catcher, his longtime position, during his final game at home indicated that he may well have known his decision back then.

Mauer, the 2009 AL MVP, will conclude his career with a .306 lifetime average in 1,858 games played. While a debate will surely be had, he may well be a Hall-of-Famer.