Colorado Rockies first baseman Daniel Murphy is hanging up his cleats for good following a 12-year MLB career. Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Three-time All-Star Daniel Murphy retires from MLB

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 1/29/21

Three-time All-Star infielder Daniel Murphy, who made his name with the New York Mets from 2008 through 2015 and became a Mets folk hero during the '15 postseason that included a World Series run, won't be joining a new team this offseason.

Murphy has told New York outlet SNY that he's retiring at the age of 35.

"This is a beautiful game, and I really just feel humbled and blessed that it let me jump on the ride for a little bit," Murphy explained during a phone interview. "It’s beautiful. It can teach you about so many things. And all I can say is, thank you."

Murphy made two (2016, 2017) of his three All-Star appearances and was a Most Valuable Player candidate for the 2016 season while with the Washington Nationals. It was during the 2015 playoffs, however, when he smashed seven home runs, won National League Championship Series MVP honors, and helped the Mets clinch a berth in the Fall Classic, where they ultimately lost to the Kansas City Royals.

Washington traded Murphy to the Chicago Cubs in August 2018, and he spent his last two seasons with the Colorado Rockies. Colorado declined Murphy's $12 million option for 2021 and instead gave him a $6 million buyout.

"There was something that happened over the lockdown," Murphy explained about that time he has spent with his wife and three children throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. "I had a blind spot revealed to me. I didn’t fully comprehend the trade-off that was being made each time I was separated from my family. I didn’t know this was what I was missing. I had a thought: You could identify what you were giving up [by retiring], but now you can identify what you’re getting."

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