Former MLB infielder Travis Shaw took to Twitter on Monday to announce his retirement from playing. The left-handed hitter appeared at the game’s highest level in each of the last eight seasons.
“For the last eight years, I’ve been blessed to live out my childhood dreams of playing Major League Baseball,” Shaw wrote. “But today, that dream comes to an end! 12 years ago, being a 9th-round pick, I would never have imagined what this game provided me. The memories will last a lifetime. To everyone that made an impact on my career (the list is endlessly long), I will forever be indebted to you! As this chapter closes, the only two words that come to mind is THANK YOU!”
As Shaw mentioned, he entered the professional ranks as a ninth-round pick in 2011. Selected by the Red Sox out of Kent State, he signed for $110K. Within a couple seasons, he began to appear at the back half of Baseball America’s top 30 prospects in the Boston system. He hit well in the minors and debuted at age 25 in May 2015. He hit the ground running over 65 games as a rookie, putting together a .270/.327/.487 line with 13 home runs.
That earned Shaw an extended look on Boston’s 2016 squad. Pablo Sandoval missed most of that season with shoulder surgery, freeing up the hot corner for Shaw. He didn’t quite maintain his rookie form, posting a .242/.306/.421 line through 530 plate appearances. The following winter, the Sox dealt Shaw to Milwaukee for reliever Tyler Thornburg.
The move panned out for the Brew Crew, who immediately installed Shaw as their primary third baseman. He took well to Milwaukee’s favorable hitting environment, topping 30 home runs in each of his first two seasons. He combined for 63 longballs between 2017-18, putting together a cumulative .258/.347/.498 line with a very strong 11.6% walk percentage. Shaw played in just over half the team’s games in 2019 but saw his production fall to a .157/.281/.270 mark.
From that point forward, Shaw settled in as a depth corner infielder and bench bat. He played the shortened 2020 season with the Blue Jays before returning to Milwaukee for the start of 2021. After struggling in his second stint with the Brewers, he landed back in Boston via release waivers. Shaw found a brief glimpse of peak form in 28 games for the Sox late in the ’21 campaign. He re-signed on a minor league deal during the lockout and made the Opening Day roster. Shaw played in seven games early last season but didn’t reach base in 19 plate appearances. After going unclaimed on waivers, he hit free agency last May and doesn’t plan to seek out other opportunities.
Shaw played in 733 major league games. He tallied just under 2700 plate appearances and hit .237/.319/.437 with 114 homers, 127 doubles, 366 runs batted in and 310 runs scored. Shaw had the aforementioned two 30-homer campaigns and twice eclipsed 30 doubles. His career offensive production checked in right around league average, as measured by wRC+. Both FanGraphs and Baseball Reference valued Shaw’s career around eight wins above replacement, with much of that value concentrated in his strong first two seasons in Milwaukee. MLBTR congratulates Shaw on a fine playing career and wishes him the best in retirement.
He looked super promising at times. Sad he never displayed his true potential. Future coach for sure.
That would suck to get so close to 10 years and not get a pension.
First, how is it he didn’t reach his potential? He had a career much better than most expected. Second, he’s young enough to un-retire in 24. Obviously, it’s an uphill battle and he chose to go out his way. Congrats Travis on a fine career.
dewey – I agree with you. I think expectations were high after his first season in Milwaukee, but the dude was 27 by then.
Ironically his last game was a memorable one, moreso for being arguably the worst managed game ever by Cora.
In that last game, April 28th 2022 in Toronto, Cora actually started Shaw at DH. It was an absurd decision not only because Shaw was hitless on the season, but also because Cora gave Xander the day off from shortstop and yet refused to have him DH.
So against a tough division rival which meant a 2-game swing in the standings, Cora had a lineup that included Hernandez batting cleanup and JBJ batting 5th and Shaw as the DH and Arroyo at shortstop instead of Story. It was one of the worst early season lineups in Red Sox history.
Needless to say, they lost 1-0 on an error by who else but Arroyo. It was one of the most bitter losses of the season, because of Cora’s horrendous lineup decisions.
MLB players earn a pension if they play just 43 days in the big leagues. That’s a quarter of a season. For every quarter of a season the player is in the mlb they earn $5,750 in pension. So if a player plays one full season their pension is $23,000 starting at age 62 for the rest of their life. If they play 43 days they get $5,750 every year for the rest of their lives. The max pension is 40 quarters (10 full years) and that pension amount is $230,000 every year for the rest of their lives starting at age 62.
Shaw has 6 years and 78 days total service time, that calculates to 25 quarters plus 35 days. His pension will be $138,000 per year when he turns 62. If he would have played 8 more days he would have added $5,750 per year to that amount.
So, players do not need to play 10 years to receive a pension, only 43 days.
Only players who play 10 full seasons receive tha max pension. Only a very small percentage of MLB players get to 10 full seasons.
Minor league seasons should count. They are all professionals and are now all in one union. Spread the wealth to the guys like Crash Davis who spend a professional career in the minors.
Minor league seasons should count? Oh, boy.
Everyone gets a trophy
@Wilmer, excellent post that provides perspective with numbers.
Thanks! It has always been something I have been curious about. The MLB pension has evolved plenty over the last 40 years.
In 1983 Frank Robinson, as manager of the Giants, kept Ron Pruitt on the roster for a few days, just long enough for Pruitt to qualify for his pension. It was Pruitt’s 9th season – so obviously the mlb pension has evolved a ton since then.
In 2020 MLB baseball recognized the Negro Leagues through 1948 as the Major Leagues. That gave the few remaining survivors of the pre 1949 Negro Leagues some sort of pension. If MLB had done that 10 years earlier it would have probably given hundreds of players a pension. Now it’s down to a dozen or two.
So the MLB is continually late to the party.
As far as giving minor league players a pension, the more important issue is giving them a living wage. Up until 2021 more than half of minor league players were making less than $1500 per month.
Shaw has earned $10MM+ per Spotrac. He doesn’t need a pension.
32 yrs old and $12.5 million in career earnings. I think he ll be just fine.
Buzz, he did reach his potential. Some might say he exceeded expectations early on. His first four years collectively were good, and certainly his first two years in Milwaukee were impactful. He made over $10MM. He’ll have a good pension and access to excellent medical benefits. Don’t mourn for Shaw. He made the Show and had a solid career, although perhaps a bit shorter than some expected based on his early production. He did better than 99.9% of players who signed a pro contract.
Mayor of Ding Dong City!!
Whoever gave him that nickname needs to be nominated for Cooperstown.
That would be Jared Carrabis.
Matt – Sounds like each “r” in Jared’s last name should be replaced with an “n”.
0 for 19 to end your career is rough. Wish the best for him though
1 for 20.
Very small sample size in 22 and for those who remember, he nearly clubbed a long homer at the end. Had that ball stated fair, he probably would have gotten an extended shot.
Just STOP. he shoulda, coulda, woulda, nonsense. He DIDNT. He sucked. Glorified bench warmer and nothing more. Good look hopefully his next career is a little less lousy than how this one went.
Two 30 HR seasons is not nothing. He wasn’t just some scrub like the vast amount of ball players who have a cup of coffee and are never heard of again. Or the vast amount of career minor leaguers who never even get a whiff of the Show.
Agreed Ignorant. it’s Jurassic Carl who is out of touch. How many of us on this thread would have liked to put on an MLB uniform and just had one at bat? He arrived on the scene and took a job no one saw coming. Solid career.
I sat on the dugout bench of the old YS and chatted with some clubhouse personnel through the generosity of a friend’s relative. Might have also stolen some dirt. I’ll always remember and be grateful for that moment.
Bleacher , that is truly an awesome memory. I’m West Coast born and raised and the closest I got to a Holy of Holies was one game in the bleachers at Wrigley Field in 1994. Still have some years to go hopefully so YS & Fenway are still possibilities and bucket list action items. Can’t stop believing!!!
Oh hey Bleacher, that reminds me of a story, I gotta buddy who’s a native New-Yorker / Brooklyn-ite, used to be a huge Yankee fan, saw every important game 60’s, 70’s, 80’s but when they tore down old YS and built the new park my buddy completely disavowed the Yankees and baseball altogether, he was so disgusted by the supposedly corrupt process/politics involved in building the new stadium. He felt betrayed. So I was just wondering if this reaction was anything you witnessed or if my buddy is just an extreme case weirdo about it lol ?? Seems like an irrational response to me, but I don’t know anything about the politics, etc that drove the new stadium being built, etc. Just wanted to get your take if possible , appreciate your time. (And Clipper and any other Yankee fan feel free to chime in if you happen to see this thnx much)
Friend of mine has two original seats from the old stadium. Great conversation piece.
It gets worse.
He was traded for Tyler Thornburg.
One of my favorite brewers in 2017/2018. Really had a great clutch bat in those years. Not really sure what happened he just fell off.
I know he had some major family issues. He had a baby that was very sick at the time and I’m sure led to him struggling. You could tell his mind was elsewhere.
Future coach imo
0 for 19 to end your career is rough. Wish him the best though
I really doubt he cares a whole lot about his last 19 at bats.
That’s not a big deal. At least once every 20 games Aaron Hicks it’s goes 0-19. And he’s proud of it!
Chaim Bloom will sign Shaw tomorrow. Five-year deal with opt-outs. Problem solved.
*crickets*
You would think the negative crap would get old after 6 years. But he keeps pumping out the quality takes.
*original*
I think it was more original than a recycled “joke” that made no sense, wasn’t funny, and went against the content of the article, personally.
Keep bringing people down, pal. Good choice. Love the kind spirit.
Ironic considering your original comment.
Horrendous trade by the Red Sox, sending Travis Shaw and 3 others for Tyler “Don’t Call Me Greta” Thornburg.
Good guy though, shame he ended his career 0-for-19.
Man you got that right fever!!!!
Saw him hit a HR off Hendricks at Wrigley, 9/10/17. Won the game for the Brewers. Only time in my life I saw the Cubs take the field as defending World Champs.
Who?
Oh he’s just some baseball player. Only baseball fans would remember him so no worries!
He hit over 100 homers in his career and made about 10M.
Most of us would consider that a success in our lives.
I’d be ok with either one of those
Yeah, me too…1 homer and 1 million
And a nice pension to boot.
Just surprising how quickly he lost the ability to hit. The 0-19 from ’22 is an even worse 2-33 going back to September ’21 (including playoffs)
Can definitely see him as a coach one day. Enjoy retirement Travis
Was thinking the very same thing.
He’s going to give up on the comeback so he can try to get a coaching gig and stay in bb.
Too bad. Loved this guy in Boston. At his height he was the scrappiest hitter ever. Shame he has to retire.
Too bad he didn’t retire before last season, or at least garner a few more hits and walks. He would have had a nice round 100 OPS+ for his career, instead of the 99 he finished with.
See you in Cooperstown, Travis.
Traded for Tyler Thornburg! Thornburg was terrible for the Red Sox. What genius GM did that?
Not sure but bloom was thinking it??? Lol
That would be Dave Dombrowski.
Shaw will be remembered fondly in Milwaukee. Could really crush the ball and looked like a long-term solution for a minute there.
Well liked guy and probably will make a good coach one day. I thought he was gonna take a Minor league deal and try to rebound but I guess there was no interest..that or he was just done. Either way I wish him well..cubs killer.
He will be in the booth for Milwaukee or something.
My Favorite Travis Shaw Moment: 2021 walk-off grand slam against the Blue Jays 8/23. That was EPIC!!!.
Best of Luck
I had a soft spot for him because he was the son of an all time great Red, closer Jeff Gray. He never played for them but I followed his fine career.
Good luck in retirement, Travis.
Jeff Shaw
Thanks. Of course. That’s what happens when you have been up since 3am lol.
No problem, just wanted to clear it up and save some people digging in case they were unsure about that surname disconnect haha
Jeff SHAW.
The last name should be the giveaway.
Best Travis Shaw trivia – played in a Toronto infield with Cavan Biggio, Bo Bichette and Vlad Guerrero Jr., making it the only infield in MLB history to all be sons of Major Leaguers.
Congratulations to the Mayor of DDC.
Simple but very classy announcement.
I guess the Cubs didn’t know he was available…
I’d open a baseball card shop.
Won’t miss the blank thousand-mile stare/zero motivation look.
Saw this coming…. He played on the same Independent league (non-affiliated league team last year with Rusney Castillo). When you get to that point retirement is not that far away.
I loved him in Boston as he really exceeded expectations. The best thing for his career was being traded to Milwaukee.
Congrats and best of luck, Mayor.
The mayor of ding dong city
Travis Shaw retired recently unfortunately his bat retired in 2020
He looked very promising after a couple big years with the Brewers. I wonder if his career would of been any different had the Red Sox called him up sooner. He had good numbers in the minors but didn’t get the call until he was 25.
Similar carrer to Jake Lamb. While I hope Lamb can still give the Angels depth, it’s been his shoulder that derailed his career. Did something like that happen to Shaw? Sudden sharp decline
The only thing I recall wasn’t an injury. It was his baby that had medical issues. I don’t recall specifically what, or if that was even made public. I do remember saying it quite possibly affected his focus/ability to play baseball, but was essentially told it shouldn’t have mattered once “reports” claimed the child was ok. Because it had to be accurate, and there couldn’t possibly be any new or residual issues.
In his first season in Milwaukee, his newborn daughter needed several heart surgeries. (There happens to be a excellent pediatric heart hospital here.) Shaw delivered a really nice season and was able to compartmentalize his family crisis. Class act, wish him well.