It’s never easy to hang up the cleats, especially when the game has been your entire life. For some stars, it’s a slow realization. For others, the moment hits like a fastball to the heart. You can feel it in the locker room, hear it in the crowd, and see it in the eyes of teammates who know it too. Change is coming.
After years of giving everything to baseball, one veteran pitcher knew his journey was nearing the end. But it wasn’t about dwindling stat sheets or media pressure; it ran deeper. A feeling told the veteran that if it wasn’t with this team, it just “didn’t seem right.” That’s when Lance Lynn, a former Cardinals standout, began thinking about ending his MLB career right where it all began.
For a star who built his legacy on fierce competitiveness, walking away from his favorite game wasn’t just a decision—it was a mental turning point. On April 1, 2025, Lance Lynn officially announced his retirement quietly and from the heart on his wife’s podcast, Dymin in the Rough. It was a fittingly personal setting for a player who always kept it real. “If I were going to have my last year somewhere else, it didn’t seem right,” he said—words that struck a chord with longtime fans of the game.
So, why now? That question lingered for months leading up to his retirement. The ex-Cardinals had a 13-year career in the majors. He posted a 143–99 win-loss record, a 3.74 ERA, and racked up over 2,000 strikeouts. The ex-Cardinal was a two-time All-Star and a World Series champion. But for Lynn, it wasn’t about the numbers, but the feeling. “You started looking at everything I accomplished last year… I was like, man, I don’t know if I can finish anywhere else.” And that’s exactly what led him to walk away on his own terms, surrounded by the fans and the city that shaped his legacy.
“If I was going to have my last year somewhere else, it didn’t seem right…”
– Lance Lynn on spending his final season with the @Cardinals pic.twitter.com/tqxYQtsmOX
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) April 19, 2025
What makes this more heartfelt is how Lynn did not chase a ceremonial goodbye and a highlight reel ending. Instead, the star went out playing the game with heart, hustle, and a no-nonsense approach. JT Realmuto said to Team USA’s manager before a WBC game, “You better give Lance the ball or you will lose this team”. Such respect does not come easily. You need to earn. The same guy who FaceTimed WBC officials from a deer camp, beard out, beer in hand, just to say he was ready to “throw some heaters and let it eat”, was also the guy teammates trusted to carry the team spirit.
Now, his story takes a reflective turn. He openly said he will miss competing—“you verse me in the box, I am trying to strike you out… and I am gonna let you know about it”. However, not the physical toll. “Long nights, everything starting to hurt in the middle of the season… I am not gonna miss that”. At 37, the veteran had nothing left to prove, and as Lync closes his MLB chapter, he is not chasing a comeback—he is chasing the perfect swing on the golf course, a trophy at a fishing tournament, and some peace under the stars at a turkey hunt.
Who else could be forced into retirement in 2025?
While Lance Lynn chose to retire on his personal terms, multiple veterans are not as fortunate. Each offseason, multiple stars identify themselves without a contract as spring training begins. Just Baseball’s February 2025 analysis highlights five former All-Stars who could be forced into retirement in the 2025 season because of a sharp performance decrease and age-related issues.
Anthony Rizzo topped the list at 35. The 3-time All-Star was once a team cornerstone for the Cubs. However, he managed just eight HR last season for the Yankees. In addition, his slugging percentage fell to a career low. Another star is J.D. Martinez at 37. He is a 6-time All-Star winner with a .235 AVG / .320 OBP / .406 slash line in 2024. Martinez’s power still flickered with 16 HR; however, his WAR dropped to just 0.6. As a designated hitter with limited defensive utility, the market for his services is shrinking fast.
The 3rd name in this list is José Abreu at 38. The 3-time All-Star winner has gone through a dramatic decline. Once an AL MVP, his 2024 numbers are among the worst in baseball, with -1.7 bWAR in just 35 games. Any scope of a comeback is slim, making the star an individual forced into retirement. Matt Carpenter, at 39, captures the 4th rank. His slash line in 2024 was .234 AVG / .314 OBP / .372. His power is nearly gone, and after coming back to St. Louis, he managed only four HR in 59 games. Once a valuable utility player, he now struggles to contribute on either side of the ball, making a non-playing role more feasible. The last name is Yan Gomes. His 2024 slash line was 154 AVG / .179 OBP / .242. His -2 Defensive Runs Saved and -1.2 fWAR make it unlikely he finds another opportunity unless a team faces a midseason emergency.
The careers of professional athletes, specifically in MLB, are identified by sharp peaks and even sharper declines. While some players gracefully transition out of the game, others, like these five former All-Stars, may face the unforgiving reality of forced retirement in 2025.
The post “Didn’t Seem Right” – Ex-Cardinals Star Makes Emotional Confession as He Shares Heartwarming Insight Into His Retirement appeared first on EssentiallySports.
