David Freese announces his retirement

This morning, infielder David Freese released his retirement statement via Twitter:

Freese was to be a free-agent, he had signed a one-year deal with the Dodgers in November 2018. He made $4.5M in 2019 plus he had received $500K for the buyout of his prior contract.

Originally drafted by the Padres, he was traded to the Cardinals for outfielder Jim Edmonds in December 2007.

Freese played 11 seasons for four franchises, but he will be remembered mostly as a St. Louis Cardinal. In the Dodgers 2019 regular season visit to St. Louis this past April, the Cardinal fans saluted Freese with a great ovation.

In 2011, he was both the National League Championship and World Series MVP for the Cardinals and this will be his signature career moment.

In his postseason career, Freese played 69 games and hit .299/.370/.549 with 10 home runs in 230 plate appearances.

In 1184 regular season games and 4229 plate appearances, Freese hit .277/.351/.423 with 113 home runs.

Freese played only 98 regular season games with the Dodgers but he was very productive, hitting .328/.421/.607 with 13 home runs in 233 plate appearances.

A very popular player in the clubhouse, Freese was cited as one of the veteran presences for the 2019 Dodgers and someone who was approachable by both veterans and rookies alike.

He was also popular with members of his former teams.