Will 2025 be the last season for these 20 MLB stars?

Left-hander Clayton Kershaw has a first class ticket to Cooperstown waiting for him as soon as he decides to call it quits. The veteran has won three Cy Youngs, an MVP award, five ERA titles, a Gold Glove, has made 10 all-star game appearances, and is a World Series champion. He's also, unfortunately, struggled mightily to stay healthy for the last several seasons. Kershaw actually has made more than 26 starts only once since 2018. He's going to turn 37 during spring training and will start the 2025 campaign on the 60-day injured list after offseason surgeries on his toe and knee. His desire to come back and contribute to a loaded Dodgers team looking to win back-to-back titles is commendable, but from a physical standpoint Kershaw stands out as an obvious retirement candidate. He simply has nothing left to prove at the Major League level, and deserves to bask in all that he's accomplished. 

Veteran right-hander Max Scherzer enters 2025 in a strikingly similar situation to Kershaw. With three Cy Young awards and a pair of World Series titles, he's a shoe in for the Hall of Fame upon retirement, but even at 40 years old, he's not quite ready to call it a career. His motivation to return for an 18th Major League season likely stems from the frustrating year he just endured in 2024. Injuries limited Scherzer to only nine outings with Texas, in which the 3.95 ERA he delivered was nearly a full run higher than his career mark. He's obsessively competitive and undoubtedly did not want to go out on that note. Scherzer inked a one-year agreement with the Blue Jays this winter, and it wouldn't be surprising if this represented his last hurrah. 

First baseman Paul Goldschmidt has enjoyed a tremendously productive Major League career, but it's fair to note the veteran is at a bit of a crossroads heading into 2025. The 37-year-old is a seven-time all-star, five-time Silver Slugger award winner, has earned four Gold Gloves, and was named the National League MVP in 2022. But his performance has dipped substantially since then, and he's coming off easily the worst full season of his Major League career. In 154 games with St. Louis, Goldschmidt slashed .245/.302/.414 with 22 homers and 65 RBI. With the Cardinals desperate to get younger and undergo an organizational reset, they were comfortable letting Goldschmidt depart, and in free agency he landed a one-year opportunity in the Bronx. It will be interesting to see how he fares in the middle of a talented Yankees line-up, but if his performance continues in its current trend it wouldn't be shocking if this was the end. 

Back to future Hall of Fame starting pitchers. Justin Verlander debuted with the Tigers all the way back in 2005, and the 262 wins and 81.0 WAR he's totaled since then are both the most of any pitcher in baseball. Like the earlier mentioned Kershaw and Scherzer, Verlander has won three Cy Young awards. He's also been both an American League Rookie of the Year and MVP, earned a pair of ERA titles, pitched in nine all-star games, and most importantly owns two World Series rings. He's also, unquestionably, coming off the worst season of his long career. In 17 starts during an injury plagued campaign in Houston, the righty pitched to a 5.48 ERA across 90.1 innings. He's 42-years-old and obviously has nothing left to prove, so his motivation to join the Giants and play one more season in 2025 was likely fueled by a desire to go out on a higher note.

Lefty Aroldis Chapman has been an electric Major League reliever for a decade and a half, but at 37 years old it's clear he's getting close to the end of the line. In Pittsburgh last season, the veteran appeared in 68 contests, and the 3.79 ERA he delivered stands out in stark contrast next to his 2.63 career mark. He still struck out 98 men in 61.2 innings, and his velocity remains strong, but lack of command and walks have been a concerning issue for several years running. Chapman currently sits at 335 career saves--good for 16th on the all-time list. After signing a one-year deal with the Red Sox this winter, he should have a chance to move up a couple more spots in 2025, but don't be surprised if this ends up being it for the Cuban-born hurler. 

Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen has stood out as a retirement candidate for several years now, but here he is, about to embark on his 17th Major League season. The 38-year-old was productive for the Pirates in a part-time role in 2024, slashing .232/.328/.411 with 20 home runs, 50 RBI, and 18 doubles. He needs six more home runs in '25 to pass Roberto Clemente for 3rd on the Pirates all-time list, trailing only Ralph Kiner and Willie Stargell. Pittsburgh is seemingly a team on the rise, though it would be surprising if they competed seriously in 2025. For now, McCutchen serves as an invaluable mentor to some of the team's young players, and someone that can educate the team about how exciting the great baseball town of Pittsburgh can be when the team is good. 

Cal State product Justin Wilson has been a more than serviceable left-handed reliever for well over a decade. In 587 career games, he's pitched to a 3.61 ERA with a 1.30 WHIP. He's struck out more than a batter/inning, has converted 20 saves, and most notably given his role as a set-up man, has registered 144 holds. He's also going to turn 38 later this summer, and missed all of 2023 and most of 2022 due to injury. Wilson did return last season, but the 5.59 ERA he turned in across 60 outings for the Reds was the worst of his career. The veteran inked a deal with Boston this winter and will certainly attempt to prove he can still be the dynamic middle reliever he'd been previously, but if he struggles with injury or performance--or both--look for him to consider retirement at year's end. 

Switch-hitting first baseman Carlos Santana has quietly been one of the most productive offensive players in baseball since debuting all the way back in 2010. He's consistently averaged 25 home runs and more than 80 RBI for a decade and a half, and while he's never been the focal point of a team's line-up, he's always been somebody the opposition must fear. This winter Santana agreed to a deal with the Guardians that will bring him back to Cleveland for a 3rd stint with the organization he's played the majority of his career with. That felt at the time like the kind of move someone makes when they want to finish where they started. Santana will turn 39 in early April, and it would not be a surprise if he chose to retire at the conclusion of this season. 

Righty Alex Cobb has carved out a nice career for himself as a solid middle of the rotation starting pitcher. The 37-year-old has made 233 Major League starts, pitching to a 3.84 ERA in just over 1,300 innings. He's been an all-star only once, but for the majority of his career he's consistently been a reliable innings eater. Last season, though, was admittedly a difficult one for the veteran. In his first and only season in Cleveland, a myriad of injuries limited him to only three starts, and while he did pitch well when he was on the mound, consistently having to try to rehab from something had to take a mental toll. Cobb signed with Detroit this winter but is already projected to miss opening day with a hip injury. If the 2025 season ends up going anything like '24 did for him, don't be surprised if he says enough is enough. 

Veteran closer Kenley Jansen has been on this list before, but at 37 years old he's still going strong. The right-hander owns a lifetime 2.57 ERA across 15 Major League seasons, has been a four-time all-star, has twice been named the NL Reliever of the Year, and helped the Dodgers win the 2020 World Series. In Boston last season, Jansen converted 27 saves, which pushed his career total to 447, which is good for the 4th most all-time. He needs 31 more to tie Lee Smith for 3rd place, and while both Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman are too far away to catch, it's reasonable to assume Jansen hopes to get into 3rd place before retirement. 

Right-hander Kyle Hendricks spent the first 11 years of his career in Chicago with the Cubs, and for most of that time was quietly one of the better starting pitchers in the National League. He won the ERA title and a World Series ring in 2016, and missed only a handful of starts due to injury from the time he debuted in 2014 all the way through 2021. His consistent ability to take the ball every 5th day brought stability to Chicago's rotation, but it's fair to acknowledge the last few years have not been kind to the veteran. He's made only 64 starts since the beginning of 2022, and last year was the most difficult one of his career, as he pitched to a dreadful 5.92 ERA. Hendricks joined the Angels this winter hoping a change of scenery will help, but if it doesn't, I'd expect him to at least consider calling it quits. 

Outfielder Mitch Haniger has been a productive offensive player for the majority of his career, and in 2021 even enjoyed a campaign that saw him hit 39 homers and drive in 100 runs. But since then, he's been slowed considerably by injuries and his production has dipped dramatically. A year ago, Haniger slashed just .208/.286/.334 with 12 home runs for Seattle, representing easily the least productive all-around season of his career. He's entering the final year of his contract with Seattle, and should he struggle similarly in '25, it might be time to think about life after baseball. 

Charlie Morton feels like an annual entry on this list, but every February he pops back up in spring training. This year, the veteran right-hander took his act to Baltimore, where he's gearing up to be a back-of-the-rotation arm for the Orioles. Even at 41-years-old, Morton remains impressively reliable and consistent. He made more than 30 starts for the Braves in each of the last four years, and while he's not exactly an all-star caliber starter anymore, the 4.19 ERA he pitched to in 2024 is obviously serviceable. I'd expect similar results for Morton in '25, and while it would not be a surprise to see him want to pitch again in '26, at some point he's got to say enough is enough, right?

Right-handed swinging Justin Turner developed into one of the most consistent offensive players in baseball during his nine-year run with the Dodgers, and even at 40 years old there's no denying his ability to hit. Splitting last season between Toronto and Seattle, he slashed .259/.354/.383 with 11 home runs, 55 RBI, and 24 doubles. He no longer plays much infield, but as a DH and veteran leader he clearly adds value. After missing out on Alex Bregman, the Cubs turned to Turner to help add right-handed productivity to their line-up, and it wouldn't come as a surprise if his stint in the Windy City ends up being his final act. 

Veteran Venezuelan born infielder Miguel Rojas has enjoyed a lengthy and productive Major League career. He spent eight years as the Marlins starting shortstop before joining the Dodgers as more of a utility player/back-up infielder, in a move that helped him earn a World Series ring in 2024. Rojas is 36-years-old, and while his .283/.337/.410 slash line from a year ago sure indicates he still has plenty left in the tank, it's certainly possible the 2025 season becomes his farewell tour. 

Right-handed reliever Adam Ottavino has pitched to a lifetime 3.49 ERA across 14 Major League seasons, and has somewhat quietly been one of the game's most reliable set-up men during that timeframe. Ottavino has 195 holds and 46 saves on his career ledger, and has been a productive member of five different organizations. That said, the 2024 season was more than a little difficult for him. With the Mets, the veteran pitched to a 4.34 ERA across 56 innings, and quickly slid down the relief pecking order for manager Carlos Mendoza. He signed a minor league deal with Boston this winter, hoping to turn in better results in '25, and at 39 years old, it would not be surprising if this ended up being the end of the line. 

One of the most impressive stories in baseball last season was the performance of Kirby Yates, who went to Texas in search of another closing opportunity and delivered one of the most dominant relief seasons in recent memory. In 61 outings, the veteran pitched to a microscopic 1.17 ERA with an 0.82 WHIP. He struck out 85 hitters in 61.2 innings, converted 33 saves, and was easily selected to his second career all-star team. This winter, he prioritized winning during his free agency, and agreed to a free-agent deal with the Dodgers. This stuck out to me as the type of move someone makes when they're hoping to win their first championship ring before they retire, and with Yates set to turn 38 before opening day, maybe that's exactly how this will play out. 

Not all that long ago Starling Marte was one of the most dynamic all-around players in baseball. At his peak he was a Gold Glove winning outfielder, an all-star, a perennial threat to hit .300, and one of the game's most elite base-stealers. Marte signed a four year deal with the Mets prior to the '22 campaign, and while his first season in Queens was fantastic, the last two have left a lot to be desired. He's been slowed significantly by nagging injuries, his power has all but evaporated, and the 16 steals he collected in 2024 were his lowest total in a season he played more than 47 games. The Mets high profile addition of Juan Soto has pushed Marte into a bench role, which could conceivably benefit him health wise. But at 36-years-old and heading into the final year of his contract, it's also fair to wonder if this will be the end of the line. 

Since returning stateside from a three-year hiatus in Japan, Miles Mikolas has given the Cardinals six mostly productive seasons as a member of their starting staff. In 173 outings for St. Louis, the righty has pitched to a 4.05 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP, while striking out 733 hitters in 1,004.2 innings. He is, however, coming off a pair of seasons with an ERA of around five, and will turn 37 later this summer. Mikolas is entering the final year of his contract, and with the Cardinals organization being vocal about their desire to get younger, it's a more than safe bet to assume this will be the end of the line for him in St. Louis. The question will be, will he look to latch on with another team or decide to call it quits later this fall?

Left-handed swinging veteran Jason Heyward is already 15 seasons into what has been a productive big league career, and after signing with San Diego this winter he's eager to keep it going. The 35-year-old has not been an everyday player really since COVID, but over the last several seasons has consistently been able to find a niche as a role player on some very good teams. He split last season between the Dodgers and Astros, slashing .211/.288/.412 with 10 home runs and 12 doubles. With the Padres, Heyward is projected to platoon in left field with Connor Joe, and it will be interesting to see if he can once again be a solid contributor.