Former Athletics starter Dallas Braden has decided to retire, reports Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Braden has not thrown a professional pitch since 2011, but had intended to put on a showcase for teams this winter in hopes of getting a chance to work back.
Now 30, the southpaw had a stellar campaign for the A's back in 2010 as a 26-year-old. He put up a 3.50 ERA in 192 2/3 innings, capping things off by throwing a memorable perfect game. Braden was off to a nice start early in the 2011 campaign when he succumbed to a series of shoulder and rotator cuff issues. The A's allowed Braden to become a free agent before last season rather than tendering him arbitration.
Slusser reports that Braden's comeback plans were shelved when a recent MRI revealed that the damage was beyond fixing. “There is nothing left in there, it's just a shredded mess,” Braden told Slusser. “I left my arm on the mound at the Coliseum, and I'm okay with that."
I know this is typically reserved for superstars or players that spend a decade with a single team, but the A’s should sign Braden to a one-day deal and let him retire an Athletic. It would be a nice gesture to a guy that was loved by the fans, and who threw out his shoulder for the team. Obviously a bit different, but I’d be in favor of it. Idk, maybe I’m just sad that a guy with a lot of potential wasn’t ever really able to show us what he could do.
EDIT: Said one-year deal, meant one-day
He retired an Athletic, though. He never signed with another organization.
How bout more than 30 wins before we honor the guy. Since when does every player ever need a little trophy?
“Every player”??? You’re clearly not an A’s fan. This guy was everything for the A’s at a time when there wasn’t much else to root for. He delivered one of the greatest moments in A’s history with his perfect game on Mother’s Day. Even though he might have left the team, his “stay off my mound” attitude never has. I really hope the A’s do something special for him next year, because he defintely deserves it.
Maybe “roll” out the first pitch on Opening day.
There are A’s fans? You wouldn’t know from the empty seats. And saying this guy was everything for the A’s is laughable. Although it’s not surprising as A’s “fans” are simply happy to compete than actually win anything.
Don’t know where you’re coming from with this negativity, but it’s off base. The atmosphere for A’s games is great with the die-hard fans, and the empty seats are largely due to it being a football stadium. You can trash the stadium, but not the team or it’s fans. Was there for Green Day night last year, place was absolutely packed and rocking. I’m an LA fan that tries to get up there at least once every year, and can appreciate large market and small market. I enjoy getting a seat down by the field for a reasonable price.
Averaging 22,000 a game at home last year is really a great atmosphere for sure.
Well 52,000 at Dodger Stadium unfortunately means 30,000 jerks, so maybe that’s my reference point. I took my whole office to Opening Day, never will again. Oakland has a rep for being a rough town, I’ve never had problems with people in the seats around me (insert because there’s no one around you joke here).
Quit feeding the troll, Puig!
I get what you’re saying but wouldn’t you rather go to a game in a packed house with a playoff like atmosphere? Maybe I’m in the minority but I would. And I don’t ever problems at Yankee Stadium with other fans or even Fenway Park for that matter when I go as a Yankees fan. Maybe it’s just LA.
gonna miss that player a good pitcher he was
Since the 80’s when kids were being taught that there should be no score kept and everyone should feel good about themselves by getting a “participation ribbon”.
I am not an A’s fan, just a baseball fan. Why anyone would choose to be so cynical towards that idea? Sure, it’s never going to happen, but does that mean you have to trash it and turn the thread into an anti-Athletic fan and “participation ribbon” critique? I just don’t get the vitriol here.
He just couldn’t continue to play in world where A-Rod wasn’t running all over his mound.
Beat me to it!
Yet another reason to hate A-Rod
Sorry to hear. I always thought the guy had the ability to be a front of the rotation.
Let’s take this moment to remember Dallas Braden’s perfect game back on Mother’s Day 2010, only the 19th in history as of that point. As an A’s fan I watched him develop from a soft-throwing joke of a lefty to a very dependable 3-4 starter in just a few years.
I really love his quote in the third paragraph. Reminds me a lot of what I did my senior season back in high school. Knew there was damage to ligaments, but it just made me want it that much more.
As a Rays fan I’m still trying to forget it.
Well that escalated quickly…
GET OFF MY MOUND
Nice pitcher, but even his “stellar” 2010 campaign was really only decent. I mean he only struck out 5.8 per 9, walked 2 per 9, FIP was in the high 3s.
Its a shame that he needs to retire when he is only 30
He earned over $7 million dollars. And now probably doesn’t have to work unless he wants to. I think he’ll be okay.
This seems like the right time with the A-Rod suspension. A fitting end, to perhaps the end of both careers.
And Dallas gets the love….not the other guy whose name I refuse to speak.
I loved watching Dallas throw in the green and gold. I’ll never forget his perfect game.
Wonder how much he made.
$7,530,000 via Baseball Reference.
mlbtr staff, can you add a new tag category for “retires?”
Great idea!
Will pass on the idea, thanks.
Dallas will be missed, awesome guy
Perfect game on Mother’s Day
Yo Dallas, we will FOREVER love you for your amazing performance on Mother’s Day. Classy guy, great personality, you were always one of my favorites. Enjoy your retirement and keep reppin’ the 209!!
-“I left my arm on the mound at the Coliseum, and I’m okay with that.”
That is a cool retirement quote.
I agree completely. I never watched him pitch much, but him saying that makes me wish I had.
This is one of those moments where they need to look at HGH and the positive uses of it. There are probably ways to fix him using it and a way to do it without him getting a competitive edge. Maybe he isnt the greatest example, but what if Buster Posey doesnt recover from his injury or gets another one and is done? Its bad for baseball to not have him, and he could probably take HGH under a doctor and trainer and come back, because people want to pay to see him play. Its a shame for a guy who did all he could for his team with his average stuff retire at 30 for a shoulder injury. I forget what player brought this up, but its something to look in to.
Stem cell and 3D printing. Baseball players can afford new technology.
Enjoy Retirement Dallas sadly it came sooner than it should have
This is so sad!
Interesting that he was 25 in 2010 but now in 2014 he’s 30? Man ages quickly.
Ya, I think mathematically he couldn’t have been 25. His birthday is on August, and Mother’s Day is in May, so he would have turned 27 on August of 2010, thus makig him 26 during his perfect game.
This kid did two thing most of us will never do: he earned millions of dollars playing a child’s game… And he threw a perfect game. Hall of famer or not, this kid has lived the life most of wish we could!
dam i still remember the perfect game he pitch on mother’s day. Great pitcher