As MLB turns the page toward another season, three of the game’s most respected veteran stars — Justin Verlander, Justin Turner, and Carlos Santana — stand at a familiar crossroads: give it one more go or ride off into retirement.
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.
Three MLB Stars Weighing Retirement or One Last Hurrah
Justin Verlander — The Power Arm That Defied Time
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.
Verlander’s decision to pitch 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 résumé already speaks loudly enough without another pitch.
Justin Turner — The Late Bloomer Who Became an October Fixture
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, Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, and the Chicago Cubs, continuing to produce well beyond what most expected.
JUSTIN TURNER AND THE CUBS WALK IT OFF OH MY GOD pic.twitter.com/op4hzg0KzS
— Cubs Zone (@CubsZone) May 14, 2025
Quality at-bats, postseason toughness, and clubhouse leadership have defined Turner’s career. As his body absorbs the toll of nearly two decades in the majors, the question is no longer whether he can still help a team, but whether the daily grind is worth enduring one more time. For a player who maximized every opportunity and outlasted every projection, the decision to continue would simply be another chapter in a career built on defying expectations.
Carlos Santana — Consistency, Patience, and Quiet Excellence
Carlos Santana has never needed flash to make his impact felt. Over a long and steady career, Santana established himself as one of the most disciplined hitters of his generation, known for elite plate discipline, switch-hitting power, and defensive reliability at first base. He rose to prominence with the Cleveland Guardians, where he became a franchise fixture, and later brought his professionalism to the Philadelphia Phillies, Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates, Milwaukee Brewers, and the Chicago Cubs.
The Cubs will be Carlos Santana’s eighth team pic.twitter.com/x3Kmdj5wft
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 31, 2025
Santana’s value has always extended beyond the box score. He has been a stabilizing presence for young lineups, a professional at-bat late in games, and a reminder that patience and preparation can sustain a career deep into one’s thirties. As he considers whether to return for another season, Santana weighs not just performance, but purpose, and whether his experience still serves the next generation of players.
Hang It Up in 2026, or One More Go?
For Verlander, Turner, and Santana, retirement is not about fading away. It is about choosing the right moment to leave the game on their own terms. Each has already built a career worthy of respect, admiration, and remembrance. Whether they return for one more season or decide their final chapter has already been written, their legacies are secure, and the game is better because they played it the way they did.
Main Photo Credit: © Katie Stratman-Imagn Images