HOUSTON (AP) -- Jeff Bagwell, the face of Houston baseball for a generation with teammate Craig Biggio, will retire Friday after 15 years with the team.
The four-time All Star will remain with the Astros as part of a personal-services agreement reached with the team earlier this week, according to a person familiar with the team's plan who requested anonymity because an official announcement had not been made.
Bagwell, the greatest power hitter in Houston Astros history, is expected to work with young Astros hitters, assisting in the front office and making appearances for the team.
The Astros have scheduled a Friday morning news conference to announce the retirement.
Bagwell, 38, leaves the Astros as the team's all-time leader in home runs (449), RBIs (1,529), walks (1,401) and extra-base hits (969). He had a lifetime batting average of .297.
Despite his unique and highly unorthodox batting stance, Bagwell displayed remarkable power at the plate, ranking among the top 15 players in home runs and RBIs throughout the 1990s. His 449 home runs leaves him three behind his childhood idol, Carl Yastrzemski.