Longoria's Absence In Bolivia: Reasons And Repercussions

Evan Longoria is not playing in Bolivia because he is a baseball player, not a footballer. Longoria is a free agent after spending the 2023 season with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He has not officially retired, but he has said that he is unlikely to continue his playing career.

Longoria's time with the Rays

Evan Longoria, nicknamed "Longo", played for the Tampa Bay Rays from 2008 to 2017. He was drafted by the Rays in the first round as the third overall pick in the 2006 MLB draft. After two seasons in the minors, he made his major league debut for the Rays in 2008, and was named to the American League team for the 2008 MLB All-Star Game.

Longoria was known for his acrobatic defence, winning three Gold Glove Awards at third base in 2009, 2010 and 2017. He owns many Rays franchise records, including the career records for games played, runs, doubles, home runs, runs batted in, walks, and Wins Above Replacement. He is thus often considered the best player in the franchise's short history.

Longoria's contract with the Rays was extended in November 2012 to a six-year, $100 million deal that could have kept him in Tampa Bay through 2018. However, in December 2017, the Rays traded Longoria to the San Francisco Giants.

Longoria's time with the Giants

Evan Longoria's time with the Giants was the middle phase of his career, after his early success with the Tampa Bay Rays and before his final season with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Longoria was traded to the Giants prior to the 2018 season, having spent ten seasons with the Rays. During his time with the Rays, Longoria was an All-Star in each of his first three seasons, won two Gold Gloves, a Silver Slugger award, and the 2008 Rookie of the Year award. He also appeared in 1,435 games with the club, slashing .270/.341/.483.

Longoria's production took a dip during his time with the Giants, where he hit .251/.312/.438 over five seasons. He also began to miss time with injuries, never appearing in more than 129 games in a season with the club. Across his five years with the Giants, Longoria only eclipsed 100 games twice, in 2018 and 2019.

Longoria's time with the Diamondbacks

Evan Longoria's time with the Diamondbacks was short-lived. After signing a one-year, $4 million deal with the team, Longoria played for the Diamondbacks for just one season before becoming a free agent.

Longoria's veteran presence was a welcome addition to the Diamondbacks, who were looking for a right-handed, veteran bat. The Diamondbacks were also close to Longoria's home, which meant that he could see his family more often.

Longoria played 74 games for the Diamondbacks, slashing .223/.295/.422 with 11 home runs. However, his season was cut short by a lower back strain in July, and he struggled to regain his form when he returned, batting just .171 in his final 59 plate appearances.

Despite his late-season struggles, Longoria's overall form for the majority of the season was an improvement for the Diamondbacks at the hot corner. Longoria's veteran leadership and mentorship of younger players were also considered valuable assets to the team.

Longoria's World Series appearances

Evan Longoria, the third overall pick in the 2006 draft, rose to prominence in the big leagues quickly, becoming an All-Star in each of his first three major league seasons. During that time, he posted a strong .283/.361/.521 slash line while collecting MVP votes in each year along with two Gold Glove awards, a Silver Slugger award, and the 2008 Rookie of the Year award.

Longoria has played for three teams over his 16 MLB seasons: the Tampa Bay Rays, San Francisco Giants, and Arizona Diamondbacks.

Longoria has never won a World Series.

Longoria's future plans

Evan Longoria is a veteran third baseman who has played for 16 seasons in the MLB. He has played for the Tampa Bay Rays, San Francisco Giants, and Arizona Diamondbacks. Longoria has not played in Bolivia because he is not a footballer, and the Bolivia national football team plays in South America.

Longoria is currently undecided about his future in baseball. While he is leaning towards playing in 2024, he is also weighing his options. He has not officially filed his retirement papers, but he has stated that he is unlikely to continue his playing career. Longoria's production has dipped since his time with the Rays, and he has been more frequently injured. He is currently 38 years old and only 70 hits away from the 2,000-hit milestone. He is also eight home runs away from becoming the 100th player in MLB history to hit 350 home runs in his career.

Longoria could make sense for the Mets, who lost infield prospect Ronny Mauricio for the 2024 season. He could also be a good fit for the Cubs, who lack an established third baseman. Longoria could be mixed and matched with other internal options like Nick Madrigal and Miles Mastrobuoni.

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