Alfonso Soriano says he is retiring from the major leagues after a season in which he was released by the Yankees in July.

"I've lost the love and passion to play the game," Soriano said in a radio interview Tuesday in his native Dominican Republic. "Right now, my family is the most important thing."

Soriano, 38, completed in 2014 the final year of his $136M, eight-year contract he signed with the Cubs before the 2007 season.