Dodger's Jeff Kent plans to announce his retirement from baseball on Thursday at the Dodger's Stadium after 17 seasons.

He had hinted at retirement during the 2008 season and had considered it even after the 2007 season. Los Angeles issued a statement Wednesday announcing the news conference.

Kent, 40, a five-time All-Star and the National League most valuable player in 2000, played 17 seasons in the major leagues, the last four seasons with the Dodgers hitting .291 with 122 doubles, 75 homers and 311 RBIs.

He will be replaced at second base by Blake DeWitt, who took over when Kent was sidelined.

Kent had a .290 career batting average, 377 homers, 1,518 RBIs and a .500 slugging percentage. He was drafted by Toronto in 1989 and also played for the New York Mets, Cleveland, San Francisco Giants and Houston.

In just four seasons with the Dodgers, Kent hit 75 home runs as a second baseman, ranking third on the club's all-time list, behind Davey Lopes and Jackie Robinson.

He made his only World Series appearance with San Francisco hitting three homers as the Giants lost to the Anaheim Angels in seven games in 2002.

In recent seasons, Kent had expressed interest in spending more time with his family, which includes four his children.

Major league baseball