Melvin Mora Says He's Not Retired After All

Two weeks ago, news broke stateside that 13-year veteran Melvin Mora had decided to retire from major league baseball. Now, Mora's saying not so fast.

"I’m only retired in Venezuela," Mora explained today to the Baltimore Sun. "It's too far from my family. That's what I was saying there. When I got back here, my wife is like, ‘Are you retired? They say in the paper you are retired. I’m like, ‘Noooo.’ I didn’t talk to anyone in the U.S. I am not retired here."

Mora told the Sun that he didn’t return phone calls in late December because he was in Venezuela, but that he still hopes to play in the major leagues in 2012.  He had a bad year for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2011, hitting .228 in 127 at-bats. He was released in June.