Daniel Barbarisi of the Providence Journal writes that Brad Wilkerson has decided to retire after an eight-year Major League career.
Wilkerson, 31, signed a minor-league deal with the Red Sox this winter to compete for a job as a backup outfielder/first baseman after Mark Kotsay underwent surgery. He struggled through Spring Training, however, hitting below .200 and striking out in nearly fifty percent of his at-bats. He was assigned to AAA to begin the season, and accepted his assignment.
After his second game in AAA-Pawtucket, he informed manager Ron Johnson that he no longer had the fire and that his time in baseball was finished.
Wilkerson originally came up with the Expos in 2001. His best season was in 2004, when he hit 32 home runs and put up a line of .255/.374/.498. He finishes his career with 122 home runs, and a line of .247/.350/.440. Good luck in life after baseball, Brad.
