Former A's Star Eric Chavez Announces Retirement
OAKLAND (CBS SF) - Longtime A's standout Eric Chavez announced Wednesday that he's calling it a career after more than 16 years of pro ball.
Chavez, 36 earned six straight Gold Glove awards while playing third base for the A's between 1998 and 2010. He was the lone big name player from the Monebyall era to sign a long term deal and stay in Oakland, but injuries prevented the prolonged success that many saw in his future.
"He had an amazing career," A's GM Billy Beane told CBS Sports. "Quite frankly, had injuries not hit at the wrong time, he was on his way to a Hall of Fame career. If you look at what he did to age 26, you could see him ending up (in Cooperstown)."
In announcing the retirement during an interview with CBS Sports, Chavez said he had no real regrets, other than coming close but never achieving his goal of playing in the World Series.
"I'm very lucky," Chavez said. "I just enjoyed competing and being on the field. There's nothing like winning at the major-league level."
CBS Sports reports that Chavez will give up more than a million dollars by opting to move from the disabled list to retirement this year.
Chavez finishes his career as a .268 hitter with 260 homers.
