With Brett Favre’s recent retirement announcement, I thought it would be appropriate to look at some of the major league baseball players still out there who continue to outperform those in the league who are half their age. These seasoned veterans are yet to act their age, and continue to produce solid fantasy stats like they think the other Bush is still in office. They’re not quite ready to ride off into the sunset, or even eat dinner when early bird specials are in play. These are some of the players you should still want on your fantasy roster for their solid fantasy production and consistency.

Gary Sheffield (OF): The 2008 season will be his 21^st in the majors. What’s remarkable is the combination of power and speed he exhibited in his 20^th, racking up 25 homers and 22 stolen bases last year, with the steals total being his highest since 1990. If he’s going to steal bases and hit homeruns in Detroit, what’s not to like? He’s drawn more walks than strikeouts almost every season he’s played, despite the tremendous torque he puts into each swing. He is a contact hitter who hits for power, and is starting to steal bases again. That bodes well for the major league’s most-improved team, and for five-category fantasy seekers.

Ken Griffey Jr. (OF): His injury-filled career makes his legacy somewhat bittersweet; he was the one destined to be on top, not Bonds. That’s not how it went down, though, and he’ll now have to settle for just being great, an AL MVP with numerous gold gloves and recognition on the All-Century Team. In 2007, Junior hit 30 HRs with 93 RBIs, and even added a half-dozen stolen bases for good measure. He should produce more of the same in 2008, batting for an offensive-minded club in a ballpark small enough to fit in other ballparks. His success is tied to his health, and as long as his limbs can get him onto the field, he’ll perform for the Reds and for whatever fantasy team he plays for in your league.

Jeff Kent (2B): He may be 40, but his motorcycle antics from a few years back suggest he’s young at heart, and he’s not ready to leave the game. He hasn’t had a batting average below .289 since 1997, which was also the year he started an eleven-year string of hitting 14 or more homers. In 2008, he’ll be surrounded by a solid core of veterans and youngsters, with new manager Joe Torre at the helm. The fact that he plays 2B only makes him more valuable, and he’s had a fairly healthy career, which is more than can be said about Utley, Weeks, and Kendrick thus far.

Frank Thomas (DH): Thomas has been around so long, he had a guest spot on Married with Children during the height of its popularity. Despite abandoning the first base position entirely, he is still proving his ability as a dangerous power hitter during his four at-bats a game. Last year, he hit 26 homers and fell only five RBIs short of the century mark. He had a respectable .277 batting average in 155 games, both being his highest marks since 2000, and his discerning eye at the plate translated to a top-25 OBP in the AL last year. He figures to remain in the heart of the Toronto lineup for at least one more season, so he is worth a look should you have an open utility slot.

John Smoltz (SP): Born more than two years before the moon landing, Smoltz is as relevant a fantasy starter this decade as he was last decade. Last year, he finished three strikeouts shy of reaching 200 for the sixth time in his career, so he’s still got it. Also working in his favor is the fact that he’s spent his entire career in Atlanta, benefiting from a lack of DH in a division which features four parks regularly placed in the pitching half of park factor analysis. Maybe he wouldn’t be such a safe bet at his age if he played in the AL East, but that’s not our concern. He goes into 2008 as the ace of the Braves’ staff again and he’ll likely be suiting up for them until he’s ready to walk away.

Trevor Hoffman (RP): Every year it’s the same with this guy. He gets his 40+ saves while managing a sub-3.00 ERA. He was tallying saves long before Mariano Rivera made it fashionable. Yes, his days of averaging more than a strikeout per inning are over, but he’s transitioned nicely into becoming the crafty veteran stopper. His reliability and security in the role is in stark contrast to elder closers like Todd Jones and Joe Borowski, both of whom inspire their respective fan bases to clamor for the next young flamethrower to assume the 9^th inning responsibilities. Like Smoltz, Hoffman benefits greatly from pitching in one of the best pitcher’s parks available, and as long as the San Diego offense gives the first-rate pitching staff some run support to work with, Hoffman should be penciled in for another 40 saves.

All born before 1970, these former and current all-stars continue to defy physics and baseball critics alike. Heading into the 2008 season, these players have clearly defined roles and continue to produce at a high level, which are crucial traits in the fantasy sports realm. Sure, they’re not recommended for the keeper league manager looking to rebuild, but in the here and now, they’re not ready to be cast aside as fantasy team liabilities who must be relegated to the waiver wire. They are proven commodities who have demonstrated their worth each year, and this coming season should be no different. Favre might be ready to pack it in, but these guys aren’t ready to settle down. As far as they’re concerned, they’re just getting started.