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Post by John on May 22, 2006 12:33:36 GMT -4
At 33, Phils infielder Gonzalez hangs up glove May 21, 2006 CBS SportsLine.com wire reports PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia infielder Alex Gonzalez, 33, retired after 13 seasons in the majors. He was batting just .111 (4-for-36) in his first year with the Phillies, who called up Chris Coste from Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre.
Gonzalez signed a $750,000, one-year contract with the Phillies in February. He hit .269 with nine homers and 38 RBI in 109 games for Tampa Bay last season. Gonzalez was the Devils Rays' starting third baseman on opening day and made 91 of his 97 starts at that spot.
A right-handed hitter, Gonzalez had a .243 batting average with 137 homers and 536 RBI in 1,396 games for Toronto (1994-2001), the Chicago Cubs (2002-2004), Montreal (2004), San Diego (2004), Tampa Bay (2005) and the Phillies. He singled in his final at-bat in Saturday's 8-4 loss to the Red Sox.
Gonzalez hit a career-high 20 homers with the Cubs in 2003, but batted only .228 that year. His best all-around season came with Toronto in 2001 when he hit .253 with 17 homers, 76 RBI and stole 18 bases. He entered this season ranked seventh among active shortstops with a .975 career fielding percentage, twice leading the league in fielding percentage at that position (1997 and 2003).
The versatile Coste hit .463 with three homers and 11 RBI in the spring and was hitting .177 with two homers and 14 RBI at Scranton. A natural catcher, Coste also can play first base, third base and left field.
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