Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Jason Bartlett has informed the Minnesota Twins that he will retire. The 34 year old had joined the team on a minor league deal in November and was a surprise addition to the Twins’ Opening Day roster after not playing at all in 2013. He’d appear in three games for Minnesota before landing on the disabled list with a sprained left ankle that he’s since been rehabbing.
Mike Beradino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press first reported the news.
Jason Bartlett has informed #mntwins he plans to retire.
— Mike BerardinoNDI (@MikeBerardino) April 18, 2014
#mntwins have asked Bartlett to think it over for a few days, but they aren't expecting him to reconsider.
— Mike BerardinoNDI (@MikeBerardino) April 18, 2014
The San Diego Padres selected Bartlett in the 13th Round of the 2001 Draft, only to trade him just 13 months later to the Twins for Brian Buchanan. He’d make his MLB Debut with the Twins two years later and was a productive piece of their lineup, though he never truly won an everyday job until his final season in Minnesota. Over four seasons he’d bat .272/.341/.362 in just over 1,200 plate appearances.
Following the 2007 season the Twins would trade Bartlett, Matt Garza, and minor leaguer Eddie Morlan to the then Tampa Bay Devil Rays for Delmon Young, Brendan Harris, and Jason Pridie. Bartlett would end up having the best two seasons of his career in Tampa Bay – batting .286/.329/.361 in 2008 as the Rays went on to lose in the World Series and then coming back to hit .320/.389/.490 the following season. He’d spend one more year in Tampa Bay before they’d deal him back to San Diego. A season and a half of struggles later the Padres would release him in August 2012 and he’d sit out this past season.
Known best for his defense at shortstop, across a 10 year career Bartlett holds a .270/.336/.366 line in just over 3,500 plate appearances with 156 doubles, 31 home runs, and 123 stolen bases.