Report: Vlad Guerrero announces retirement from baseball

Two decades after signing with the Montreal Expos as an amateur free agent, Vladimir Guerrero is calling it quits.

The 38-year-old native of the Dominican Republic announced his retirement from baseball, writes Listin Diario.

Guerrero said to the paper (translated from Spanish):

"I decided to announce my retirement because I want to spend more time with my family, especially with my oldest son, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who plays baseball, and also for the fact of the two operations I've had in my right knee."

For five seconds in 2012, it looked like Vladimir Guerrero might make another appearance in the Majors to inch closer to his 500-career home run goal when he signed a minor league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. He has 449.

Guerrero last played in the Majors in 2011 with the Orioles. He batted .290/.317/.416 with 13 home runs.

(Photo: Guerrero with three year-old Vlad Jr. at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Sept. 29, 2002. He struck out in his last at-bat at the end of a 39 home run, 40 stolen base season.)