Right-hander Adam Warren confirmed to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com yesterday that he’s retired as a player after spending parts of eight seasons in the Majors (Twitter link, with video, to Hoch’s interview with Warren). Warren, who was making an appearance at Yankees Fantasy Camp, told Hoch that he’s been enjoying time with his family but also misses being around the game and would be open to “maybe getting into some kind of coaching” role in the future.
“There’s no more attempt to come back or anything like that,” Warren replied upon being asked if he’s formally put an end to his playing career. “I’m happy with it. I had a great career — didn’t really leave anything out there, so no regrets. Totally happy with it.”
Originally signed by the Yankees as a fourth-round pick out of UNC back in 2009, Warren made his big league debut as a 23-year-old in 2012 — a spot start that proved to be his lone MLB appearance that season. He made the Opening Day roster the following year, however, and quickly established himself as a pivotal swingman providing quality, multi-inning relief out of then-manager Joe Girardi’s bullpen. Warren’s official rookie season resulted in 77 innings of 3.39 ERA ball; he made two starts, finished 11 games and picked up his first Major League win, save and hold along the way, foreshadowing the jack-of-all-trades approach to pitching that he’d embody throughout his career.
Warren worked as a setup man for the Yankees in 2014, tallying 23 holds and saving three games while pitching to a sharp 2.97 ERA in 78 2/3 innings. He stepped into the rotation for part of the 2015 season and did so almost seamlessly, starting 17 games (plus another 26 relief appearances) and working to a 3.29 ERA over the life of a career-high 131 2/3 frames. His early Yankees work caught the attention of the Cubs, who acquired him that offseason in a trade that sent Starlin Castro to the Bronx.
Warren’s time with the Cubs in 2016 went poorly and proved to be short-lived, as he was knocked around for a 5.91 ERA. As the trade deadline approached, the Cubs, then hoping to bolster the roster for a World Series push (an endeavor that ultimately proved successful) quickly traded Warren … back to the Yankees, as one of four players in a package that shipped Aroldis Chapman to Chicago. Warren almost immediately righted the ship in his return to the Bronx, and he went on to have strong performances with the Yankees in both 2017 and 2018 before being traded to the Mariners, where he had a nice finish to his 2018 campaign.
Upon reaching free agency, Warren signed with the Padres, but his time in San Diego was marred by injury. After just 25 appearances, the right-hander landed on the injured list with an arm issue that ultimately proved to be a ligament tear in his pitching elbow. He underwent Tommy John surgery that year, rehabbed in 2020 and eventually made his way back to the mound for a third stint with the Yankees organization — this time with their Triple-A affiliate in 2021.
Though Warren posted solid results in Scranton that season — 3.59 ERA in 57 2/3 innings — he didn’t receive a call to the big leagues. Warren told Hoch that “the velocity never came back like I wanted it to.” That season proved to be the final chapter in his playing career, as Warren didn’t suit up for the 2022 campaign and now, at 35 years old, doesn’t appear to be contemplating a comeback.
Warren’s career draws to an official close with a 3.53 ERA, a 20.9% strikeout rate, an 8.3% walk rate, a 30-24 record, 57 holds and six saves over the course of 492 1/3 innings. He pitched for four different big league clubs, but fans will surely remember him as a versatile, quietly excellent member of the Yankees’ pitching staff who found success in just about every role asked of him. Baseball-Reference pegs his career earnings at approximately $11.5MM, and if Warren indeed plans to pursue potential coaching opportunities, there’ll surely be chances for him to add to that tally in the next phase of his career.
Yankee fans will want to check out the entire clip of Hoch’s chat with Warren, as he talks briefly about his favorite moments in pinstripes and notes that with so many great teammates over the years, “it’s just nice to be remembered” by fans with whom he interacts. That humble mentality undersells the right-hander’s importance to the Yankees’ staff during his run with the club, and it seems quite safe to say that their fans in particular will have plenty of fond memories Warren’s time in the Bronx. Best wishes to Warren and his family in whatever’s next, and congratulations on a very fine career.
Will always remember his short time with the Padres for a clip of his astonished face after Manny threw out a guy while falling off the third base line. He zinged it over to first and Adam had this, ‘did I just really see that’? Classic. Seemes like a really good guy. Wish him the best in retirement!
tow – I agree, that was almost as memorable as his role in Something About Mary.
Franks & Beans!
“Frank and Beans” always reminds me of the episode of the Office with Jim and Pam coming back from their honeymoon.
My favorite part about that play was even though Machado was throwing off balance from foul territory like 150 feet away, he still had the runner beat by like 3 steps. Amazing moment.
I will always remember Adam Warren fondly. Got to see him pitch a few times in person and always liked his call to the bullpen. Solid arm and I hope he does get into some sort of coaching and pass down that knowledge.
Didn’t know he was a free agent, anyways ok pitcher.
According to the Warren report, Adam was no where near the grassy knoll…
What is it with former Yankees retiring early after good seasons?
What are you even talking about? He struggled in 2019. Then had TJ surgery and rehabbed in 2020. Spent 2021 in AAA and while he had fine results, he couldn’t get his velocity back and opted to retire after not pitching in 2022. If you’re going to make a comment, at least make an intelligent one.
He had a fine career and wish him the best in retirement!
I do consider his AAA numbers to be good. I forgot 2019 was 4 years ago. Still, this guy and David Phelps looked like they would be an upgrade to many teams. Consider how Conforto got 2/36 with an opt-out after missing a year and 1 meh season. These guys did well in their last seasons. Phelps actually excelled in 2022 and was relatively young.
Phelps is 36, Warren is 35…neither are young in baseball. And they both seemed content with hanging it up. Conforto is 29 and still has a lot of years ahead of him potentially. And we’re talking about 2 middle relief pitchers vs a starting CF. You’re comparing apples and oranges.
He was solid with the Yankees and often overlooked with all the big names in their pen. Best of luck in retirement
See you in Cooperstown, Adam.
He belongs in the HOF more than the cheater “Big Sloppy”.
Warren brings back some painful memories of some bad trades of the Theo era. And the guy only seemed to pitch well with Yankees.
Ah, yes. Warren’s inclusion in the Chapman trade was a folly for the Cubs in 2016.
More like the gleybar trade my low iq friend.
That was a painful one—almost as painful as Cashner for Rizzo, or Valbuena for Fowler, or Dempster for Hendricks, or Samardzija for Russell, or that one of Feldman and Clevinger for Arrieta and Strop. He did have some doozies.
LOLLL
All these guys who haven’t been signed “retiring”.
Best wishes on his retirement. He was a valuable Yankee who always flew under the radar of the New York press. No big splashes, but his if call d upon to start in a pinch, he always gave his best effort and usually did well. Then he’d slide right back into that middle innings guy, or the guy who’d shut down the other team after the starter gave up 5 runs in the first two innings or less. Wouldn’t still be pitching for the win when the Yanks would come back by the 7th or 8th inning, but they would have had the chance without him.
Another solid “infrastructure” guy that seems interchangeable but of the type the game cannot do without. Goes out there, reasonably dependable, sits back down again, rinse and repeat.
It was David Phelps yesterday and today it’s Adam Warren. Both members of the first place 2010 Trenton Thunder, where I had the pleasure of seeing them for the first time. And more importantly, both had careers they can be proud of.
Thanks for the memories Adam (and David) & good luck in the future.
His time in monument park is upon us.
Best Adam Warren memory—2017 the Yankees come to Wrigley—about 30-45 minutes prior to game time Jed and Theo walk to the Yankees bullpen (under the right field bleachers) with a box in hand. Obviously, Warren’s World Series ring.
Ten minutes before game time—Chapman meets a group of Cubs at home plate–video tribute and he gets a standing ovation and his ring.
Pretty sure only a couple dozen recognized Warren was getting his ring.
I’ve always had David Phelps and Adam Warren linked together in my head from when they first arrived on the Yankees in 2012, so retiring within one day of each other certainly won’t break that connection! Neither were predicted to be great, but both went on to put up solid 10+ year careers.
He retires from the game a multimillionaire with decent career numbers. Well done.
I always got him and David Phelps confused. How appropriate that they retire on back to back days!
What do coaches usually get paid?
Hard to believe its been 3 years since the last time he pitched in the majors. Enjoy retirement
Had a very serviceable career , not everyone gets to be a star. Hope he enjoys his retirement!!!
On another subject, would be shocked if the Yankees trade for Bryan Reynolds. Looks like Cabrera, Hicks, or one of the 3 outfielders they added on minor league deals.
Dan Martin of The New York Post reminds us:
“Hicks is set to attain 10-and-5 rights on Aug. 8. Players who accrue 10 years of MLB service time and have spent the past five consecutive seasons with the same team can veto any trade.”
If Cashman doesn’t admit his glaring error and persuade Hal to eat some salary to unload Hicks, we’re likely to be stuck with him for three more seasons unless Hicks concludes that getting out of New York would make his life easier.
Solid career be proud. Most true baseball fans remember the name, even if it’s been 3 seasons