TAMPA – For the second time in less than six months, Luis Sojo retired. This time, though, he was sadder, since the decision essentially was made by others rather than him.
Sojo had said he would retire after last season and was prepared to move into his post-career life when the Yankees called during the winter and asked if he wanted to try to make one last team. Because the game was not out of his blood and because it was the team he adored making the request, Sojo accepted.
And though he was a minor-league invitee and facing a competitor in Ron Coomer the organization wanted to win the job, Sojo convinced himself he was going to be a Yankee for a seventh season.
So he was “disappointed” Thursday when GM Brian Cashman and manager Joe Torre told him he would not make the club without a last-second injury.
Sojo came in yesterday to clean out his locker and described himself as better than 99 percent retired. He said he will go over his options with his agent, Brian David, and would not completely close the door on if the Yanks asked him to go to Triple-A as a player-coach or if the team called during the year in need of a pair of experienced hands.
“I always said I wanted to retire in a Yankee uniform, but yet I think I can still play,” Sojo said. “I don’t want to go to another team, though, and sit down. That is not fun.”
The Yanks plan to talk to Sojo about working in the organization, perhaps initially as a scout in his native Venezuela. The team wants to keep a player who through his good humor, good timing and good citizenship emerged as an extremely popular Yankee, though managing just six homers and 192 hits in six seasons with the team.
“The Yankees are always going to be my first option,” Sojo said. “These people have been so good to me.”