Relief pitcher David Robertson announced his retirement from Major League Baseball on Jan. 30 on his Instagram account. 

Former Yankee David Robertson has announced his retirement from baseball:

“To all the incredible organizations, teammates, coaches, staff members, and fans who have been part of my baseball journey,

I’ve decided it’s time for me to hang up my spikes and retire from the game… pic.twitter.com/wPTTgeEZzt

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) January 30, 2026

​Robertson, 40, spent 17 seasons in MLB with nine of those coming with the New York Yankees. He made his MLB debut with the Yankees in 2008 and won the World Series with them in 2009. Robertson was at the Hall of Fame Signings at the Expo Center in Secaucus, New Jersey, on Feb.1. 

Robertson on his Retirement

​”I mean, like you said, I’m 40 years old. I’ll be 41 in April. Just one of the oldest guys in the league last year, and I think, you know, there comes a time when you gotta realize that it’s time to hang it up,” Robertson told World Baseball Network at the Expo Center.  

​“I feel like I still can go out there and compete and could probably do it. I just don’t know if I’d quite be at the level I wanna compete at. I decided to go spend some time with my family and my kids, because I haven’t seen them for a full year in a long time. It would be nice to be home and enjoy some family time,” Robertson said. 

​Robertson pitched the first seven years of his career with the Yankees. The highlight was the World Series victory in 2009 against the Philadelphia Phillies. Robertson was excellent in the 2009 postseason with 5 1⁄3 scoreless innings and three strikeouts.  Robertson was the last active player on that 2009 Yankees World Series-winning team.  

​In 2011, Robertson took his game to another level, earning his first and only All-Star appearance. He had an ERA of 1.08 in 66 innings with 100 strikeouts in 2011.  

​“Well, you know, the Yankees were a big part of my life when I was younger, but I’ve spent so much time in so many different places that, you know, my baseball world is all over,” Robertson said. 

The Right-Hander’s Career After Time with the Yankees

​After the 2014 season, he left the Yankees in free agency and signed a four-year, $46 million deal with the Chicago White Sox. 

​International competition with Team USA was also a big part of Robertson’s career. He won a gold medal with Team USA in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. Robertson also got a silver medal in the 2020 Summer Olympics, which were postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19. 

​Robertson was reacquired by the Yankees at the 2017 trade deadline on July 18. He pitched with the Yankees through the 2018 season before leaving in free agency again. He signed a two-year, $23 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies before the 2019 season.

“I’ve had a lot of good years in a lot of good places. It was fun to be a Yankee, but it was fun in 2009 to win a World Series,” Robertson added. “I had the opportunity with the Phillies to win in 2022. We fell a little bit short, and I had a lot of playoff runs with a lot of teams, but the Yankees will always have a place in the heart.”

Robertson also pitched with the Tampa Bay Rays and the Chicago Cubs after his Phillies tenure concluded in 2020. He was reacquired by the Phillies at the 2022 trade deadline from the Cubs on Aug. 2. He made it back to the World Series in 2022, but the Phillies lost to the Houston Astros.

Robertson also pitched with the New York Mets, Miami Marlins, and Texas Rangers, and returned to the Phillies for a final time to end his career this past season on July 21.

He was a workhorse and a very reliable reliever. Robertson pitched 894 ⅓ innings with 1,176 strikeouts, 179 saves, and an ERA of 2.93 in his 17-year MLB career.

PHOTO: New York Yankees closer David Robertson throws against the Seattle Mariners in the ninth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, June 10, 2014, in Seattle. Robertson picked up a save as the Yankees beat the Mariners 3-2. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)