Mariners’ Seager says he’s retiring

Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager announced his retirement from baseball in a message posted on the Twitter account of his wife, Julie.

“Today I’m announcing my retirement from Major League Baseball. Thank you to all of my family, friends and fans for following me throughout my career. It’s been a wonderful ride but I am unbelievably excited for the next chapter of my life,” Kyle Seager wrote.

Seager was tearfully removed from Seattle’s final game Oct. 3 in the ninth inning after the Mariners had been eliminated from the playoff race. That marked the completion of the seven-year, $100 million extension he signed before the 2014 season. Some speculated that he might join his brother, longtime Dodgers shortstop Corey, with the Texas Rangers.

“That was pretty special for me. That was a real moment,” Seager said after the season finale. “Obviously, you know this moment is gonna happen. You think about it, you think about how you’re going to feel but you can’t prepare for that. That was really special.”

He had a solid final season for Seattle, playing in 159 games and posting a .212/.285/.438 slash line with 29 doubles, a triple, 35 home runs, 101 RBIs, 59 walks and 161 strikeouts.

Selected in third round of the 2009 draft out of North Carolina, Seager made his MLB debut July 7, 2011. He took control of the third-base job in 2012 and became an All-Star and Gold Glove winner in 2014.

In 10½ big league seasons, all with the Mariners, Seager, 34, played in 1,480 games — including 1,412 starts at third base — and finishes with a .251 batting average, 252 homers and 807 RBIs.

He had nine seasons of at least 20 homers, tying Ken Griffey Jr. for the most in franchise history.

Seager ranks fourth in franchise history in games, hits, home runs and RBIs.