Gattis said Tuesday he's "done playing" professionally on the '755 is Real' podcast with David O'Brien of The Athletic and Eric O'Flaherty.
The 33-year-old indicated in October he wasn't pursuing a return to MLB, so it's hardly a surprise to see he's hung up his cleats. Gattis had a .248/.300/.476 slash line with 139 home runs and 410 RBI across six major-league seasons between Atlanta and Houston.
Gattis indicated Tuesday that he hasn't officially retired from professional baseball, but he admitted he's not actively pursuing a return to the game, Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston reports. "I don't even know if I could play, but right now I don't want to," Gattis said.
After failing to receive a qualifying offer from the Astros following the 2018 season, Gattis didn't end up signing with another team, even though minor-league contract offers were most likely presented to him. The 33-year-old could always change his mind and stage a comeback, but there probably won't be much of a market for a player with no defensive value who spent a full year away from the game. Gattis spent six seasons in the majors, slashing .248/.300/.476 with 139 home runs between stops in Atlanta and Houston.
Gattis did not receive a $17.9 million qualifying offer from Houston on Friday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Gattis slashed .226/.284/.452 with 25 home runs and 78 RBI in 128 games for the Astros this past season during his fourth year with the organization. He will now hit the free-agent market after making $6.7 million in 2018. Gattis only made a couple appearances behind the plate this season, so it's likely that he will try to find a home in the American League as a designated hitter.
Gattis went 3-for-3 with a walk and two RBI in Sunday's win over the Angels.
After going hitless in 16 at-bats, Gattis has erupted for five hits over seven at-bats in games Saturday and Sunday. Prior to his two-game uprising, Gattis had appeared in just 11 of 28 games, as a slump coincided with the hot bat of Tyler White, who took over as the primary designated hitter. Injuries to Carlos Correa (back) and George Springer (thumb, leg) may lead to some at-bats for Gattis over the final week, but he remains in a bench role.
