Sammy Sosa Wants To Bat Again; Agent Says ‘Unlikely’

By Mark Hoerrner

Though he and fellow batmeister Mark McGwire captured the awe of a baseball-watching world in 1998, the 2006 season finds former Baltmore slugger Sammy Sosa relaxing by the pool.

Earlier this year, Sosa rejected a contract offer from the Washington Nationals hoping to attract what he called "the right offer." His agent, however, told ESPN Radio that the Santo Domingo sports icon would probably not face another pitch from a professional pitcher.

"I don't expect that he will," said Adam Katz, Sosa’s agent, on an ESPN Radio show last night. "I know it's a difficult process to walk away from something you've loved since you were a teenager, so he may have a few bouts of regret or remorse and express them periodically, but from everything he's told me he's likely played in his last game. I suppose you never know, and if he really wants to get after it, he'll have my total support."

Sosa has had an illustrious career, slamming 588 homers and capturing the number five slot among Major League Baseball’s all-time hitting record. After the Texas Rangers, Sosa became a rising star with the Chicago Cubs. It was during that time that he went head to head with McGwire, falling just four short of McGwire’s 70 homers, but still managed to beat the then-top-record of 61 season home runs set by the legendary Roger Maris.

In 2004, Sosa was traded to Baltimore. His last season with the Orioles saw a slightly less-than-average performance with a .221 average and just 14 home runs, which could have something to do with Sosa’s lack of offers. Still, Sosa remains positive about a return to pro ball.

"I'm not retired. I'm young and happy," Sosa told a radio station interviewer in Santo Domingo. "I wanted a break, but I'm getting ready to come back for the right offer."

ESPN reports that Sosa said he has spent these last months resting family, traveling around the world and dealing with some personal business. He also purchased his own plane.

"I have rested physically and mentally. I'm completely recovered after so much time playing ball," he said.

According to ESPN, Sosa recently traveled to several locations around the world including parts of Asia, where he told reporters that he would be making a serious bid to return to baseball in 2007.

"Many people," Sosa said, "including kids, asked me why I wasn't playing anymore during the trip. That's why I'm not going to retire yet."