Report: Infielder Bret Boone retires

SAN DIEGO, May 28 (UPI) -- ESPN.com reported Wednesday that 14-year veteran Bret Boone has retired for a second time from major league baseball.

Boone, 39, said his "difficult" decision came after he wasn't offered a contract by any major league team for the 2008 season.

He accepted an assignment to Triple-A Columbus, but left the Clippers April 17 to return home to his family in San Diego and a seven-hour bus trip from Columbus, Ohio, to Charlotte, N.C., was a factor.

In 12 spring training games, Boone, whose brother, Aaron, plays for the Washington Nationals, had a .189 batting average.

He retired initially during the 2006 season while playing for the New York Mets.

"I had no idea how hard it is when you get to be a certain age," Boone said. "Now I know what 39-year-old middle infielders feel like playing every day. It's very hard."

Boone's best major league season included 141 RBI for Seattle in 2001.