Brosius Retires to Spend More Time With Family

After playing in four straight World Series, New York Yankee third baseman Scott Brosius decided he had done everything he wanted to in baseball and announced his retirement on Tuesday to be with his family.

“It’s all about who I want to be as a husband, as a father and as a person,” Brosius said. “As a baseball player, there’s no way to get away from 100 nights a year away from your family. My oldest daughter is 10. I spent over three years of her life away on road trips. I want to be together as a family.”

Brosius, 35, became a free agent after the Yankees’ World Series loss to Arizona. He went straight home to Oregon after the Series, instead of returning to New York with the team. He said he was 90% sure then that he would leave the game.

“I’m walking away with absolutely no regrets,” Brosius said. “I’ve done everything I ever hoped to do as a player. I can leave with no bitterness and look ahead to great things for myself and my family.

“I’ve reached the point where there’s nothing else out there to chase, nothing more to do. I’m walking away on my own terms when I knew the time was right. I never wanted to play the game halfhearted. I’ve played enough baseball.

“It’s time to turn the page and pursue other things.”

Brosius and his wife, Jennifer, have two daughters and a son.

Brosius had a knack for clutch hits, earning MVP honors in the 1998 World Series and hitting a score-tying homer with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning in New York’s Game 5 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks this year.

*

The Texas Rangers acquired Herbert Perry from the Chicago White Sox for a player to be named. Also, the Rangers designated infielder Kelly Dransfeldt for assignment.... Utilityman Joe McEwing, one of six New York Mets eligible for salary arbitration, agreed to a one-year contract for $750,000.... The Tampa Bay Devil Rays released outfielder Jose Guillen and left-handed pitcher Jeff Wallace.

*

It could take weeks to evaluate bids submitted for a controlling stake in the Red Sox, Boston Chief Executive John Harrington said.

The Jean R. Yawkey Trust, which has controlled the team since 1994, set a Thursday deadline to receive offers for its 53% stake in the team.

Harrington wouldn’t say if the winning bidder will be determined by highest bid.

FleetBoston Financial and Salomon Smith Barney are the team’s financial advisors.

“We have to get to Thursday first,” he said. “It really heats up after that. It may take weeks to analyze the bids.”

*

Outfielder Chris Richard, a regular in the middle of the Baltimore Oriole order last year, will miss at least half of next season because of an injured left rotator cuff.... Colorado pitcher Mike Hampton had surgery on his left groin, and is expected to recover in time for the start of spring training.

*

Yankee owner George Steinbrenner lavished praise on Jason Giambi, making it sound like the free-agent first baseman would join his team.

“He seems like our kind of ballplayer,” Steinbrenner said.

Yankee executives have spoken several times in the last eight days with Arn Tellem, Giambi’s agent. New York Manager Joe Torre has called the first baseman as part of the lobbying effort.

Steinbrenner hasn’t been involved in talks thus far, leaving the recruiting to his baseball executives.

“They’re going to come to me at the end and say this is what I think we should do,” he said.

Giambi was voted the AL MVP in 2000 and finished second this year, just behind Seattle outfielder Ichiro Suzuki.