[OffTheHook]

Former Texas Rangers catcher Ivan Rodriguez will retire on Monday in Arlington as a member of the team he spent the majority of his career with, a baseball source told ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick.

The Rangers declined comment.

Rodriguez, who won the 1999 American League MVP and went to 10 straight All-Star Games with the Rangers, was not able to find a job this spring. The 40-year-old affectionately known as "Pudge" began his two-decade-plus major league career with the Rangers in 1991.
Rodriguez was also a four-time All-Star with the Detroit Tigers and won a World Series as a member of the 2003 Florida Marlins.
Rodriguez signed with the Marlins after spending all or parts of 12 seasons with the Rangers. He returned to Texas in 2009 when the Rangers acquired him after catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia was injured late in the season.
Rodriguez was part of three AL West champion teams in Texas in 1996, 1998 and 1999. He hit .332 with 35 homers and 113 RBIs and stole 25 bases during his MVP season.

Rodriguez becomes the third longtime catcher to retire since last season ended, joining Jorge Posada and Jason Varitek.


http://espn.go.com/dallas/mlb/story/_/id...ource-says


:Sad04:

[Strikeout King]

one of the best. He will be missed