Gerardo Parra will retire from baseball after 12 Major League seasons and will become a special assistant to Mike Rizzo with the Washington Nationals.

"It's time for me to step aside to take on new professional and personal challenges," Parra said. "It's not an easy decision to make for any athlete, but I am happy with what I have achieved in these 12 years in the major leagues."

Parra said his new role with the Nationals "is undoubtedly a dream job to start a new chapter."