John Jaso Leaning Toward Retirement
One Pirate veteran made it known to reporters that he is leaning toward retirement this offseason
On December 23, 2015, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed John Jaso to a two-year contract worth $8 million. The Pirates signed Jaso to play first base, until Josh Bell became an everyday Major League player, and then transition into a bench/pinch hitting role.
With free agency once again looming this offseason reporters asked John Jaso want his plans are for next season. Well, it appears those plans do not involve baseball. After the Pirates’ season finale on Sunday, he told reporters that he is leaning toward retirement.
John Jaso told reporters he would like to live a ‘simple life’ and that there is a lot of excitement in the world he has yet to experience that he would like to. He also said he hopes to go to Puerto Rice to aid with Hurricane Maria recovery.
If this is the end for John Jaso, he will finish his nine-year Major League career having played for three teams (Tampa Bay Rays, Seattle Mariners, and Pittsburgh Pirates) and having played in the postseason in 2010 and 2011 with the Rays. He owns a lifetime .338 wOBA, 115 wRC+, a 9.3 fWAR, and he hit 55 career home runs.
John Jaso accomplished a pair of rare feats in his Major League career. First off, as a member of the Seattle Mariners on August 15, 2012, Jaso caught Felix Hernandez‘s perfect game. This made Jaso the 19th catcher in Major League history to catch a perfect game.
Secondly, Jaso became the first Pirate to hit for the cycle since Darryl Ward in 2004 when he accomplished the feat on September 28 of last season against the Cubs. This makes Jaso the only player to ever hit for the cycle at PNC Park.
Next: Bucs Out Slug Nats In Season Finale
Here at Rum Bunter we have long been John Jaso’s biggest fans. On top of being an all-around awesome and kind person, as evident by his plans in retirement, he was an underrated player who did a fine job for the Pirates. If this is the end of John Jaso’s career, we wish him nothing but happiness in retirement!