Braves closer Billy Wagner told manager Bobby Cox that he plans on retiring at the end of this season, writes Carroll Rogers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The lefty says that he will not play out his $6.5MM option for 2011 which automatically vests if he finishes 50 games.
Cox told Wagner that he believes that he still has the ability to play for a few more years, but the 38-year-old says that he wants to spend more time with his family. Wagner, who turns 39 in July, will earn $7MM this season.
The fireballer is sixth on the all-time saves list with 386 and wants to reach 400, but he's only going to give himself the rest of 2010 to get there.
2 saves opps in 3 weeks.. I’d be pissed too. Oh wait, I am because he’s my #1 closer in a fantasy league. PS: didn’t he threaten to retire last year too?
Also, in 2008, after suffering his season ending injury, he said he had played his last game as a Met. This guy isn’t looking too credible right now.
Long as he doesn’t blow up and get removed from the role, or suffer a significant injury, he should be a lock to reach 400 saves this year.
admirable in this day in age of “im going to play until im 40, retire every single year, pitch god awful and repeat”. good for him, of course we will see if he is true to his word. i certainly enjoyed his brief stint in Boston
He says that now. If he does in fact go through with it I think he has a good case for the HOF.
If he can’t get to 400 this year, Atlanta has some SERIOUS problems…
indeed
Craig Kimbrel will be a force as a closer for the Braves next year. thats why wags will retire.
Exit Sandman.
hoffman should have retired after last year and it seems wagner is making a good decision by going out on top
i wouldnt call the current pace of the Braves as going out on top, he was better off being a lefty specialist on the Mets this year and maybe picking up a couple of saves
Looks as though the era of Craig Kimbrel will be beginning soon
There is zero percent chance Wagner retires and walks away from $6.5 million. If anything, this is his first shot in trying to get more money from the team.