David Peralta, who hit .278 in an 11-year big league career that included nine seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, announced his retirement on Wednesday.
Peralta, 38, did not play in 2025 and posted his decision to retire on social media.
“Thank you to the Arizona Diamondbacks organization for making my dreams come true, believing in me and giving me the opportunity to play the best baseball in the world,” Peralta said before also thanking the Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres for his time with those teams late in his career.
Peralta won a Silver Slugger in 2018, when he hit .293 with 30 homers and 87 RBIs for the Diamondbacks. The outfielder won a Gold Glove the following season.
Peralta, a native of Venezuela, made his major league debut with Arizona in 2014 and hit .312 while leading the majors with 10 triples in 2015.
Peralta hit .267 in 91 games with San Diego in 2024 after hitting .259 for the Dodgers in 2023.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
FILE - San Diego Padres' David Peralta, right, watches his two-run home run in front of Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith, left, during the second inning in Game 2 of a baseball NL Division Series, Oct. 6, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
FILE - Arizona Diamondbacks' David Peralta runs during a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies June 11, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
FILE - Arizona Diamondbacks' David Peralta looks on during a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds June 7, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean, File)
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — It's Manchester City vs. Arsenal in the English League Cup final.
The current top two in the Premier League will go head-to-head at Wembley Stadium next month after City beat Newcastle 3-1 on Wednesday to complete a 5-1 win on aggregate in the semifinals.
Both City and Arsenal are still in contention for a clean sweep of trophies this season. The League Cup is the chance to lift the first piece of major silverware this term and to potentially inflict a psychological blow in the race for the title.
“We’re here to win trophies and we give our best every day to reach these finals and win the silverware,” City forward Omar Marmoush - who scored two goals on the night - told Sky Sports.
Arsenal currently leads the standings by six points ahead of second-place City. Both teams are through to the round of 16 in the Champions League and and fourth round of the FA Cup.
The League Cup final is on March 22.
“It’s a pleasure to play against Arsenal, the best team right now in Europe, maybe the world,” City manager Pep Guardiola said. “As much (as) we (can) play against them, it will make us a better, better team.”
Two first-half goals from Marmoush at the Etihad effectively finished off Newcastle in a semifinal where City led 2-0 from the first leg. Tijjani Reijnders added another before the break.
Newcastle scored a consolation through substitute Anthony Elanga and prevented what looked like being a rout after the first 45 minutes.
Arsenal booked its place in the final with a 1-0 win against Chelsea on Tuesday to seal a 4-2 aggregate victory.
The final will continue the recent rivalry between the clubs, which has seen City beat Arsenal to the title in 2023 and '24. On both occasions Arsenal had led the way before being overhauled.
Mikel Arteta’s team is ahead again this season and aiming to win the title for the first time since 2004.
The League Cup would be Arteta’s first major trophy since his debut season as Arsenal manager when he won the FA Cup in 2020.
He was formerly Pep Guardiola’s assistant at City and victory in the final would see him finally beat his former colleague to a major trophy.
Guardiola, meanwhile, will get the chance to win a 16th major trophy since taking over at City in 2016 and his fifth League Cup.
City is looking to win it for the ninth time and move within one of Liverpool’s record haul of 10 in the competition.
Arsenal has won the trophy twice - most recently in 1993.
This year’s final will be a repeat of 2018, when Arteta was part of Guardiola’s coaching team as City triumphed.
Marmoush bundled in City’s opener in the seventh minute when Dan Burn’s tackle rebounded off the Egypt international and into the net.
His second came from another defensive error in the 29th when Kieran Trippier's attempted clearance looped up for Marmoush to head in from close range.
Reijnders drove home the third from inside the box three minutes later.
Elanga's goal came in the 62nd and Newcastle had chances to score more.
James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
-mu9-, left, and Manchester City's Abdukodir Khusanov fight for the ball during the English League Cup semifinal soccer match soccer match between Manchester City and Newcastle in Manchester, England, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City's Omar Marmoush celebrates after scoring during the English League Cup semifinal soccer match soccer match between Manchester City and Newcastle in Manchester, England, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola celebrates their second goal during the English League Cup semifinal soccer match soccer match between Manchester City and Newcastle in Manchester, England, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)
Manchester City's Omar Marmoush celebrates after scoring during the English League Cup semifinal soccer match soccer match between Manchester City and Newcastle in Manchester, England, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City's Omar Marmoush celebrates after scoring during the English League Cup semifinal soccer match soccer match between Manchester City and Newcastle in Manchester, England, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
