This news isn't exactly coming out of nowhere. News never comes out of nowhere. Everything always has to come from something. Even the universe. But anyway, after months of speculation, Pat Burrell has confirmed that he's going to retire, rather than try to continue on with his playing career. MLB Trade Rumors:

Pat Burrell is retiring, MLBTR has learned. We last heard from Pat the Bat in November, when the 35-year-old told the AP, "I have not decided yet, but I don't think I can play anymore [due to a chronic foot injury]. It hurts me to say that."

It didn't literally hurt Burrell to say that, because he didn't say it with his chronically injured foot. But Burrell is obviously calling it quits before he ever wanted to call it quits.

Burrell was the first overall pick in 1998, ahead of Mark Mulder, Corey Patterson and Jeff Austin. Below, their accumulated career WAR figures, according to Baseball-Reference:

18.7
16.3
6.3
-1.1

Good job by the Phillies! Except for J.D. Drew accumulating 45.9 after being selected fifth. Anyway, Burrell played in 1,640 games, posting a career batting line of .253/.361/.472. That was good for a 116 OPS+, and Burrell did most of his damage with Philadelphia. His 292 career home runs gives him a higher total than Brian Giles, Will Clark and the other Frank Thomas. Also a higher total than the other Brian Giles. And the other Will Clark. Wow!