Mark DeRosa Joins MLB Network

Tuesday, Mark DeRosa announced his retirement from baseball, despite the fact that the Blue Jays had picked up his $750,000 contract option for 2014. And now, via press release from MLB Network, we know why:

MLB Network today announced that after a 16-year career, Mark DeRosa has joined its roster of on-air talent as a studio analyst. DeRosa, who served as a guest analyst on MLB Network during the 2013 and 2011 Postseasons, will appear across MLB Network’s studio programming and make his debut on MLB Tonight on Monday, December 9, live from the Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida.

"While I still had the opportunity to return as a player, it became clear to me that the chance to begin a career at MLB Network was too good to pass up, and I am very excited to get started," said DeRosa.

DeRosa was a popular player in his two seasons with the Cubs. This, I don't really need to tell you. Injuries took a toll on his post-Cubs career; after 2008 he hit just .239/.318/.384 in 983 at-bats. His two years in Chicago were his two best, as he hit .289/.373/.451 (109 OPS+) with 31 home runs in 1007 at-bats, his most with any team. He was also one of the few Cubs who hit at all in the 2007 and 2008 postseasons, where he went 7-for-21 (.333) with two doubles and a home run.

I wish DeRo well. He's certainly got the looks and voice and smarts to have a long and successful broadcasting career.