Hairston retires, may join Dodgers' broadcasts

Jerry Hairston announced his retirement Wednesday, following a 16-year Major League career that included a World Series title with the Yankees in 2009.

"After 16 seasons decided retiring is my best opportunity," Hairston wrote on his Twitter account. "Game will not miss me but I will miss it and teammates immensely! #NextChapter"

After 16 seasons decided retiring is my best opportunity. Game will not miss me but I will miss it and teammates immensely! #NextChapter

- Jerry Hairston, Jr. (@Therealjhair) December 11, 2013

It appears that Hairston will remain in baseball and with the team he played for last season, the Dodgers. The 37-year-old has a deal to serve as a pregame and postgame analyst for the club's television broadcasts, according to Bruce Levine of Chicago's WSCR-AM radio and 670thescore.com. However, the Dodgers have not announced the deal.

Hairston comes from a baseball family. His grandfather, father and uncle all played in the Majors, while his brother Scott is an outfielder with the Nationals. The two played together with the Padres in 2010.

San Diego was one of nine teams Jerry Hairston played for after the Orioles made him an 11th-round pick in the 1997 First-Year Player Draft out of Southern Illinois. He made his debut with Baltimore in '98 and stayed there through 2004, bouncing around for the rest of his career before finishing up with the Dodgers from 2012-13.

Hairston was a versatile player, spending time at every position except pitcher and catcher. Over 1,442 Major League games he hit .257/.324/.368 with 70 home runs, 420 RBIs and 147 stolen bases. His best year probably came in 2008, when he posted a .326/.384/.487 line in 80 games for the Reds.

The following year, Cincinnati sent Hairston to the Yankees at the non-waiver Trade Deadline, allowing him to make his only appearance in the World Series, winning the title over the Phillies.

Hairston appeared in 96 games for the Dodgers last season but hit only .211 with a .539 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) and was left off the team's playoff roster.