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Nationals' Kendrick mulling retirement after 'tough' year ended with injury

Greg Fiume / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Washington Nationals infielder Howie Kendrick is unsure if he'll ever play again in the majors.

The 37-year-old is mulling retirement after his 2020 season abruptly ended Friday due to a left hamstring issue.

"Man, do you want to go out like this? Do you want 2020 to be any worse?'" Kendrick told reporters, including MASN's Mark Zuckerman. "2020 has been strange, due to COVID and all the other climate going around the country. It is a strange year. And to think you would end on a year like this ... it is a tough one."

Kendrick admitted he planned to retire at the end of this campaign, but he doesn't appear pleased with not being able to hang up the cleats on his terms. The situation has left him contemplating what to do next.

"I want to get healthy first, and talk with my family and then decide," Kendrick said. "Because right now, being hurt, I wasn't too happy about finishing this way. We'll see what happens. I don't want to say yes, and I don't want to say no. Because right now, I really don't have an answer."

The veteran slugger has produced a solid .316/.361/.511 slash line since joining the Nationals before the 2017 season. He was an integral part of Washington's 2019 championship team, hitting important home runs in the division series and World Series.

Kendrick has a $6.5-million mutual option tied to his contract for 2021, which could wind up being the deciding factor in retiring if the Nationals opt to decline their end of it.

"If this did end up being my last year, I can tell you I really don't have any regrets," he said.

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