A contract with $12.5 million remaining and a team that eyes three more victories for a World Series title was not enough to convince Michael Cuddyer to return to baseball.
The Mets outfielder will not play a 16th season, as multiple outlets reported Friday night he would retire.
The two-time All-Star, who won the NL batting title as recently as 2013, is calling it quits after a career that included a .277 batting average, 197 home runs and 794 RBIs.
The Mets likely did not protest the surprise retirement, as Cuddyer showed every bit of his 36 years of age last season, being reduced to a pinch-hitter throughout their playoff run.