Rasmus leaves Rays, placed on restricted list

Colby Rasmus has decided to "step away from baseball," and the Rays have placed the outfielder on the restricted list, the team announced Thursday.
"The Rays fully support Colby's decision to step away from baseball. We are thankful for his contributions to our team, and we wish him and his family the best as they move forward," the Rays said in a statement. "Respecting the privacy of Colby and his family, the Rays will have no further comment."
Rasmus had been on the disabled list since June 23 dealing with left hip tendinitis. The 30-year-old, who signed with Tampa Bay as a free agent last offseason, was hitting .281 with nine home runs and 23 RBIs in 37 games in his first season with the Rays.
Rasmus is in his ninth Major League season, and is a career .242 hitter with 165 big league home runs. He began his career in 2009 with the Cardinals, and also played for the Blue Jays and Astros before joining the Rays.