{"id":111380,"date":"2025-12-30T23:15:37","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T04:15:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=111380"},"modified":"2025-12-30T23:15:48","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T04:15:48","slug":"three-mlb-stars-weigh-one-more-season-or-retirement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/12\/30\/three-mlb-stars-weigh-one-more-season-or-retirement\/","title":{"rendered":"The Final Call: Three Star Veterans Weigh One More Season or a Farewell"},"content":{"rendered":"

As MLB turns the page toward another season, three of the game\u2019s most respected veteran stars \u2014 Justin Verlander<\/a>, Justin Turner<\/a>, and Carlos Santana<\/a> \u2014 stand at a familiar crossroads: give it one more go or ride off into retirement.<\/p>\n

Each has carved out a career defined by longevity, professionalism, and postseason relevance, and each must now decide whether the grind of another season is worth one final push or whether it is time to step away, having already secured a lasting legacy.<\/p>\n

Three MLB Stars Weighing Retirement or One Last Hurrah<\/h2>\n

Justin Verlander \u2014 The Power Arm That Defied Time<\/h3>\n

Few pitchers in baseball history have rewritten the aging curve the way Justin Verlander has. A three-time Cy Young Award winner, MVP, World Series champion, and future Hall of Famer, Verlander built his legend on durability, elite velocity, and an unmatched competitive edge. He debuted with the Detroit Tigers, where he became the face of the franchise for more than a decade, later adding championships and late-career dominance with the Houston Astros. He had a brief stint with the New York Mets in 2023. Later that year, the Mets traded him back to Houston, where he pitched for a season and a half, and then played in 2025 for the San Francisco Giants. A brief but symbolic return to Detroit before continuing his career elsewhere.<\/p>\n

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May 18, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Justin Verlander (35) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Oakland Athletics at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Verlander\u2019s decision to pitch<\/a> into his forties was never about chasing records alone. It was about proving that preparation, intelligence, and willpower could outlast the calendar. Now, as injuries and recovery timelines become part of the conversation, Verlander must decide whether his arm still has one more meaningful chapter left, or whether his r\u00e9sum\u00e9 already speaks loudly enough without another pitch.<\/p>\n

Justin Turner \u2014 The Late Bloomer Who Became an October Fixture<\/h3>\n

Justin Turner represents one of the most remarkable reinventions in modern baseball. Once a fringe infielder early in his career with the Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets, Turner transformed himself into a star after joining the Los Angeles Dodgers, becoming a cornerstone of their lineup and a symbol of their sustained excellence. He later brought his leadership and bat to teams like the Boston Red Sox,<\/strong>\u00a0Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, and the Chicago Cubs<\/a>, continuing to produce well beyond what most expected.<\/p>\n

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JUSTIN TURNER AND THE CUBS WALK IT OFF OH MY GOD pic.twitter.com\/op4hzg0KzS<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Cubs Zone (@CubsZone) May 14, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n