Soto Retires, Catching Dodgers a Little Off Base

From the Dominican Republic, a surprise was delivered to the Dodgers Friday. Mario Soto, a pitcher the Dodgers thought had committed to a minor league contract for next season, said he was retiring instead.

The announcement of Soto’s retirement--which he delivered himself--came 2 days after the Dodgers announced that he had reached agreement on a contract to pitch for Albuquerque, their triple-A farm club.

Soto, taking a page from Mariano Duncan’s infamous outburst against Manager Tom Lasorda, said that any notion of his agreeing to a minor league contract was a “big lie.”

Truth be told, Fred Claire said he’s not sure what Soto’s intentions are. The Dodgers’ executive vice president talked with Soto and his agent, Rich Shapiro, Friday afternoon and said Soto seemed uncertain of his plans. Claire expected to hear back from Soto today, according to a Dodger spokesman.

If Soto--apparently discouraged by the lack of progress he is making in rehabilitating his right shoulder--does retire, he will have done so without throwing a pitch for the Dodgers. The 32-year-old Soto, who when healthy was one of the dominant right-handers in the National League, signed as a free agent last June 27 after being released 11 days earlier by the Cincinnati Reds.

Soto, 100-92 in 12 seasons with the Reds, was immediately put on the disabled list, where he remained for the remainder of the season. The Dodgers were hoping that Soto, whose shoulder problems resembled those of Dodger Alejandro Pena, would recover with extensive rest and therapy.

Claire said that if Soto were healthy in spring training, he would be on the Dodger roster. But Soto was quoted as having heard a different message.

” . . . They’ve told me that I can’t return to play well in the major leagues,” Soto said. “Because of that, I officially announce my retirement from baseball.”

It remains to be seen what will be official today.