Ex-Sox Beltre retires after 21 MLB seasons

Adrian Beltre had a sometimes-imposing stare and plenty of quirky habits. He also had a genuine love for the game, and a lot of fun in a Hall of Fame-caliber career.

After 21 big league seasons in which Beltre hit 477 home runs and became the first player from the Dominican Republic to have 3,000 hits, the slick-fielding third baseman for the Texas Rangers retired yesterday at age 39.

“After careful consideration and many sleepless nights, I have made the decision to retire from what I’ve been doing my whole life, which is playing baseball, the game I love,” Beltre said in a statement.

Beltre was a .286 hitter with 1,707 RBI in 2,933 career games. His 3,166 hits rank 16th on the career list. He played 2,759 games at third base — only Hall of Famer

Brooks Robinson had more.

The four-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove winner played for the Red Sox in 2010 before signing a $96 million, six-year deal with the Rangers . . . .

Atlanta reliever Jonny Venters won ned the National League Comeback Player of the Year award.

The 33-year-old Venters was 5-2 with three saves and a 3.67 ERA for Tampa Bay and Atlanta, which reacquired him on July 26. He had not appeared in the major leagues since 2012, undergoing Tommy John surgery for the second and third times . . . .

Catcher Kurt Suzuki finalized a $10 million, two-year contract to return to the Washington Nationals . . . .

Catcher Jeff Mathis and the Rangers finalized a $6.25 million, two-year contract . . . .

Jim Hickey is leaving the Chicago Cubs after one season as the team’s pitching coach. The Cubs say Hickey stepped down for personal reasons.