Retirement Planners Spotlight: Ryan LaMarre

Ryan LaMarre is pushing for another big league chance with a sixth different team.
LaMarre, 30, a well-traveled outfielder, endeared himself to Blue Wahoos fans as part of the 2012 inaugural season, as well as the 2013 team. He is now having a terrific season with the Gwinnett (Ga.) Stripers, the Atlanta Braves Triple-A affiliate in Lawrenceville, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta.
Through 83 games, he's batting .301 with 42 RBI, including 19 doubles, seven triples and six home runs. The RBI total is already nearing a career best. LaMarre had 47 RBI in 2011, his second professional season, with Bakersfield (Calif.) and Carolina Mudcats, who were the Cincinnati Reds' Double-A affiliate before transferring to Pensacola.
LaMarre, a Royal Oak, Mich. native, was a second-round pick by the Reds in 2010, following a collegiate career with the Michigan Wolverines. He played 259 games for the Blue Wahoos, batting .263 in 2012, .246 in 2013.
After playing for the Blue Wahoos in 2012-13, he played the next two seasons for the Reds' Triple-A affiliate, the Louisville Bats, before making his major league debut with the Reds on Aug. 22, 2015. He played 21 games that season for the Reds.
Following the season, however, LaMarre opted for free agency and joined the Boston Red Sox organization. He made his debut with the Red Sox on July 2, 2016 in the most bizarre way. He was used a pitcher in the ninth inning of the Red Sox 21-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.
He played in six games for the Red Sox going 0-for-5.
Next stop was the Oakland Athletes, who acquired his rights from the Angels and he made three appearances for the A's in the big leagues in 2017.
A year ago, LaMarre made the Minnesota Twins opening day roster. On April 7, 2018, he got his first RBI in the major leagues. Later last season, he joined the Chicago White Sox where he hit his first big-league home run on Aug. 14, 2018.
After the season ended, LaMarre again opted for free agency and was signed by the Atlanta Braves on Nov. 19, 2018. He was then assigned to the Gwinnett Stripers.
What's kept LaMarre in the game this long is value as a defensive outfielder and someone who has continued to be a good hitter wherever he's played.
He's batted over .250 with seven of his last eight teams.