Baseball is a young player’s game. According to Baseball-Reference, the average age of all major-league players in 2026 so far is 27.2. Position players are a little younger at 26.5 than pitchers who average 27.8.
A 35-year-old in practically any industry is usually in his/her prime. No so in baseball, where 35-year-olds are the “old men” of the sport whose remaining careers look bleak.
The trend towards decline in older players is not new. According to baseball analyst/writer Joel Sheehan, “Ten years ago, there was a steep decline in the contribution of hitters starting at 34. That has been moved up by two years. Players 32 and older, back in 2016, accounted for a little under 25% of all plate appearances. That figure is down under 17% today.”
Among the current major-league teams’ rosters, there are 34 position players who are 35 years of age or older. 24 of them have played 20 or more games so far this season. So how have these veterans contributed to their teams?
Only five of those 24 players are posting above-average offensive seasons this year, measured by Adjusted On-Base Plus Slugging Percentage (OPS+ of 100 or greater). They include Paul Goldschmidt, Max Muncy, Freddie Freeman, Christian Walker, Kyle Higashioka, and Giancarlo Stanton (who continues to be plagued with injuries). Goldschmidt and Walker are having comeback seasons, after under-performing in 2025.
The below-average performers include former All-Stars: Nolan Arenado, Jose Altuve, George Springer, Starling Marte, Marcus Semien, JT Realmuto, Marcel Ozuna, Andrew McCutchen, and Salvador Perez. McCutchen, the elder statesman at age 39, has already been released by Texas. But all these players are showing their age. They are clearly on the downside of their careers.
On the pitching side, Justin Verlander (43) and Max Scherzer (41) are the “old men.” Both have been operating on one-year contracts, because of fear by their teams that injuries will limit their playing time.
For former aces Robbie Ray (34), Gerrit Cole and Kevin Gausman (35), Sonny Gray and Zach Wheeler (36), Chris Sale (37), and Jacob deGrom (38), the end of their productive careers is quickly approaching.
Injuries are often the reason for older players’ ability declines, but degrading skills are also a factor—pitchers lose the zip on their fastball, batters swing late on high heat.
Of course, there have been exceptions to the aging players. I am always reminded of pitchers Nolan Ryan, Jamie Moyer, and Tommy John, who defied age concerns. Then there is Adrian Beltre, whose second half of his career (age 30 to 39) included a slash line of .307/.358/.514, with 227 home runs and 881 RBIs, cinching his Hall of Fame election.
What does this signal for the next group of position players, especially those with MVP and All-Star credentials, who are within a couple of years from age 35? Aaron Judge and Mike Trout are 34, while Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Manny Machado, Mookie Betts, Jose Ramirez, and Xander Bogaerts are 33. Will they see drops in performance? Some would argue Machado and Betts are already in decline.
It used to be that players who renewed their contracts at age 31 or 32 could get 3-5 more years. Not anymore, because the deals would extend their careers beyond their prime. They would do well to get two years if they want to keep playing. Some of the marginal players won’t get a new contract offer at all.
In the not-too-distant future, I think we’ll see a day when players 35 and older will have faded into the sunset. There will be a rare exception, maybe someone like the Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll.
There was one former major-leaguer who never wanted to let go of the game entirely. Orestes “Minnie” Minoso’s Hall of Fame career started in the Negro Leagues in 1946, and he played in the majors until he was 40 in 1964.
As a coach for the White Sox in 1976, then 52-year-old Minoso suited up for three games for the White Sox. In 1980 at 56 years of age, he made two more appearances with the White Sox.
Undeterred by “father time,” Minoso took an at-bat for the independent St. Paul Saints at age 69 in 1993. And then 10 years later, he put on his spikes one last time for the Saints in a pinch-hit appearance. Now, that’s what you call a true “lifer.”