Just over a month after scrambling to find a new manager, the Houston Astros will have to look to fill another massive void that has formed on their roster. Five-time All-Star and World Series champion Michael Brantley announced his retirement, he told Jon Morosi of MLB.com.
“It’s time for me to be home 24/7, watch my kids grow up, and not miss important milestones,” he told MLB Network on Friday.
Dr. Smooth hangs up his spikes, leaving the diamond as one of the most respected professionals in the sport. His silky smooth swing and incredible plate discipline made him one of the toughest outs anytime he stepped to the plate.
He will finish his career with an incredible 90.8% contact rate, which is the sixth highest in league history (min. 6,000 PA).
Brantley spent 15 years in the majors with the Indians and the Astros, spending the first 10 in Cleveland and then shipping down to Texas after the Indians were booted from the playoffs by the Astros in 2018.
Dr Smooth did all he could despite his health issues. Chronic shoulder issues held Brantley out for extended periods throughout his career. He played over 100 games in a campaign just eight of the 15 seasons he took the field. But when Brantley was on the field, he was a game-changer. 2014 was the best season of his career. He slashed .327/.385/.506 in 156 games. He tallied over 200 hits and finished third in MVP voting. Slapping the ball all around the field is part of Brantley’s MO, racking up over 1600 hits in 1400 games. He ended his journey just two points back from being a career .300 hitter. He finished seven seasons with a batting average north of .300 and only let his OBP slip under .300 twice.
Brantley was drafted in the 7th round of the 2005 Amateur Draft by Milwaukee, but it took one of the most infamous trades in MLB history for Brantley to break into the majors.
C.C. Sabathia, who had pitched for eight seasons in Cleveland, was entering his first experience in the free agency market. On July 7th, 2008, the Indians were last in the AL Central, with a 37-51 record, sitting 13.5 games behind the division lead.
The Indians sent Sabathia to the Brewers in exchange for Rob Bryson, Zach Jackson, Matt LaPorta, and a player to be named later. The sneaky player to be named later turned out to be one of the most consistent left-handed bats in recent memory and a staple of the MLB.
Sabathia went ballistic in the 17 games he played in Milwaukee. He was 11-2 over 130.2 IP, with a mindblowing 255 ERA+. He threw three shutouts and allowed only six home runs over three months of work. Sabathia practically willed the Brewers to the playoffs in 2008, giving the Indians more leverage when asking for the player to be named later.
After having one of the most memorable contract seasons of all time, Sabathia landed a massive six-year $137.5 million deal with the Yankees, inadvertently bringing Michael Brantley to the majors and kick-starting his distinguished career.
14 years later, when he finally reached the mountain top, the look on Brantley’s face while hoisting the Commissioner’s Trophy after 1,430 games shows why he means so much in the baseball world. The look on his face encapsulates not only what that moment means to him but also what he means to his teammates and the fans. His mentorship of the younger players on the dynastic Astros was monumental and was one of the driving factors in their 2022 World Championship.
This retirement is met by kind eyes worldwide, but it might sting within the Astros organization. Houston had already lost the man in charge and one of the best baseball minds in the world, Dusty Baker. Now, entering the 2023 season without two prominent leaders on the team, they might need to find a new identity to succeed.
