As he nears major milestone, former Royals outfielder Lorenzo Cain ponders retirement
Shortly before he was released by the Texas Rangers in April, relief pitcher Greg Holland reached the coveted 10 years of Major League Baseball service time.
It’s a huge and rare deal for a player to make it a full decade, which means he will receive a full pension from Major League Baseball after retiring.
Holland is one of at least 12 players from the 2015 Royals World Series championship team to played that long: left fielder Alex Gordon, catcher Salvador Perez, first baseman Eric Hosmer, third baseman Mike Moustakas, shortstop Alcides Escobar, outfielder Jarrod Dyson, closer Wade Davis, starter Danny Duffy, infielder Ben Zobrist, pitcher Chris Young and designated hitter Kendrys Morales.
On Saturday, center fielder Lorenzo Cain should make it a baker’s dozen.
“If you had told me I was going to play 10 years in the big leagues, I would have thought you were just messing around with me,” Cain told the Athletic’s Andy McCullough. “I wouldn’t have thought that was possible.”
But Cain, who left the Royals as a free agent and signed a five-year contract with the Brewers ahead of the 2018 season, is not sure how much longer he’ll play.
In his four-plus seasons with the Brewers, Cain has been an All-Star, Gold Glove winner and finished in the top 10 of MVP voting. He’s played in the postseason three times with the Brewers, and it would have been four if Cain had not missed most of the Covid-shortened 2020 season.
Cain, 36, played in just 78 games last year as he dealt with injuries. This season, his average has dropped to .176 and Cain has been benched by manager Craig Counsell.
“Normally, veterans don’t take it as well as I might,” Cain told MLB.com. “These guys can play here. That’s what it boils down to. I haven’t been getting it done. Why not let the guys go out there that’s getting the job done? I care about winning just as much as anybody else. If that’s how we can win. That’s what we need to put in the lineup.”
Despite the move to a reserve role, Cain went 2 for 5 with an RBI and a run scored Wednesday in Milwaukee’s 10-2 win over the Mets. That shoulws Cain can still contribute, but he’s not sure for how long.
With his five-year, $80 million contract set to expire at season’s end, Cain has been pondering his future.
“It’s gotten to that point where I’ve worked so hard, for so long, that I’m just tired,” Cain told The Athletic. “It’s almost that time. I know a lot of people are wondering if I’m going to retire this year or not. I haven’t given a direct answer yet. Still going to wait to the offseason to see where I’m at — but it’s most likely a good chance (of retirement).”
KC connection
Should Cain steps away from the game, he’ll join Gordon, Davis and other former Royals World Series champions in retirement.
Cain can ask those guys what life is like after baseball because they still keep in touch.
McCullough reported Cain is part of a group chat with several of his former teammates from those Kansas City glory years, including Moustakas, Gordon, Davis, Holland, Dyson, Hosmer, and, of course, Perez.
During the Royals’ two playoff seasons, Cain and Perez became good friends and delighted Instagram viewers with their shenanigans.
Before making a final decision on retirement, Cain will enjoy what’s coming Saturday when the Brewers play the Reds. Fewer than 10% of players in MLB history have reached 10 years of service time.
“It shows you what hard work can do, and dedication to your craft,” Cain told the Athletic. “That’s what I did.”
