Kevin Kiermaier has played baseball for so long, he can’t remember the last time he wasn’t getting ready for a season. But the four-time Gold Glove outfielder is now firmly retired as a player.
Drafted by the Rays in 2010, he played parts of 10 seasons with them in the majors, then 1½ with the Blue Jays. After a trade to the Dodgers in July, he went out gloriously with a World Series championship.
Kiermaier, 34, said Saturday he has no regrets about his decision, relishing more time with his wife and three kids around their Tampa home.
Plus, he was reminded during some recent workouts that he made the right call.
“People have been asking me the last few months, and even now, ‘Are you really done?’ And I’m like, ‘Yes, I’m done,‘” he said.
“I’ve done light stuff at the gym. and my body still just doesn’t feel great. I’m like, there is just no way I could ever get through a season again. And I don’t want to. I went out the way I wanted to, and now I am focusing my sights elsewhere. So. I’m a happy man.”
Though he joked about calling the last few months “Life 2.0″ rather than “the offseason,” Kiermaier is going to stay involved with the game.
He talked to a few teams, including the Rays, about providing outfield instruction, and finalized a deal Friday to rejoin the Blue Jays as a special assistant to general manager Ross Atkins.
Kiermaier will have a very flexible schedule — “You can’t even call it part-time,” he said. He will work with minor- and major-league players during spring training in Dunedin and at various locations during the season, doing one of the things he loves best — sharing his knowledge about playing defense.
“I’m really excited to stay connected in the baseball world but have my freedom as well,” Kiermaier said. “I feel like I can be a great, great outfield mentor, and I plan on doing just that.”
Kiermaier said he talked seriously with the Jays, Rays and a third team about a job.
“I pretty much just gave every team the same offer and wanted to see who was willing to work with me and wanted to sign up for the potential impact I could make,” he said. “Ross Atkins made a great hire. I’m going to thrive in this role, and I can’t wait.”
As you’d expect, Kiermaier has plenty of ideas.
“I’m going to try to revolutionize outfield defense,” he said.
“I want to be the start of a new era, a new age, with the teaching and the drills that I can implement. It’s been on my mind for years, and now it’s coming to fruition. So, it lights me up. It’s fun to think about.’’
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There won’t be, he said, any comebacks as a player.
He’ll get his Dodgers World Series ring at some point during this season and is assembling “a little man cave” with his framed jerseys — a retirement surprise from his wife — as well as his Gold Gloves and assorted awards.
“Marisa did a great job with that, and just little things like that are really cool and made me reflect a lot this offseason,” he said.
“Once again, I know my playing days are done. I’ve accepted that and am more than happy about that. And I am thrilled to coach and help out these young guys.”
Broadcast news
Ryan Bass, part of the TV crew the last three seasons, is set to move into the lead in-game reporter role for what is now FanDuel Sports Network Sun, replacing Tricia Whitaker, who left the job after six seasons. The rest of the TV crew is expected to return intact. … At least 12 spring games, plus the March 13 prospect showcase, will be televised and streamed by FanDuel. The Rays Radio Network will do 11 games over the air and 10 via mlb.com. … TV broadcaster Dewayne Staats and his wife, Carla, are hosting another Stellar Night at the Stables event on Feb. 22 at Freedom Farm in Pinellas Park supporting their Warriors at Rest program, which provides retreats with equine interaction for military/law enforcement personnel.
Rays rumblings
Baseball Prospectus’ popular PECOTA projection system tabs the Rays to finish 82-80 and fourth in the AL East, but with a 33.3% chance to make the playoffs. … Tampa-raised Hall of Famer and former Ray Wade Boggs made the “extremely emotional” announcement Friday he was “cancer free.” He was diagnosed in September with prostate cancer. … There are talks to bring back former outfielder Steven Souza Jr. and coach/minor-league manager Charlie Montoyo in player development roles. … Late March should be something, with the St. Pete City Council voting March 27 on the Trop repairs, opening day set for March 28 and the deadline for the new stadium deal March 31. … It was interesting to hear MLB commissioner Rob Manfred say he was “spending a ton of time” with Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg, who is wrestling with decisions on the new stadium and the franchise’s future. … After losing No. 7 to free-agent signee Ha-Seong Kim, who had a contract clause claiming it, Jose Caballero doubled down and will become the first Rays player to wear 77. New Rays Danny Jansen will sport 19, Alex Faedo 31. Catcher Logan Driscoll switched from 41 to traded Jose Siri’s 22. … Though the Rays have loosely targeted late May for Kim’s return from October shoulder surgery, he told Korean media last week he could be ready late April/early May. Kim also said goodbye to the Padres in an Instagram post. He noted the “unforgettable and precious memories” from his four years, saying the team was like a family and it was “truly an honor” to play in front of the “passionate” fans. … No Rays made the 41-100 slots revealed so far in MLB Network’s ranking of the game’s top 100 players. … Junior Caminero’s trip to Los Angeles between the Dominican league championship series and starting spring training included meeting NBA great LeBron James. … Some thoughts about this season’s promo items: After opening day, the first giveaway isn’t until late May, when weather will be more of a deciding factor for fans; veterans Yandy Diaz, Pete Fairbanks and Brandon Lowe — each the subject of offseason trade speculation — were not included; it will be interesting to see how the Steinbrenner Field-labeled items are received. … The 20-game partial season ticket plans announced last week start at $1,522 — $76.25 per game. … MLB Pipeline, looking well into the future, projects the Rays’ top 2027 prospect to be outfielder Brailer Guerrero.
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