B737-700
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Airport; Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure; Staffing
Taxiing to the gate at night I saw an object out of the corner of my left eye on the ground close in to the aircraft. I immediately applied firm braking pressure to bring the aircraft to a halt. When I looked down I saw a silver hard sided roller bag on the ground immediately adjacent to the aircraft. I shut down the #1 engine. I spoke to the flight attendants to inform them of what was going on. We called to have to bag removed as I could not taxi to avoid it. Baggage Handler crossing the adjacent taxiway saw the situation and removed the bag. We subsequently taxied to the gate without incident.The ramp lighting was insufficient to see the bag at a far distance additionally our taxi lights are not that great on many aircraft. This contributed to not seeing the bag until in close.
B737 Captain reported baggage was left in the gate area and obstructed his path of taxi into the parking spot.