Kansas City Royals pitcher Gil Meche announced on Tuesday he is retiring from Major League Baseball. Meche was signed to the Royals on a five-year, $55 million contract, which tied for the largest in franchise history, before the 2007 season.
Meche's 2010 season was derailed by injuries as he started the season on the disabled list and was able to only make nine starts. In announcing his retirement, Meche cited injury concerns with his shoulder.
"As a competitor my entire life this is the hardest decision that I've ever faced, but it's not fair to me, my family or the Kansas City Royals that I attempt to pitch anymore," Meche explained. "I came into this game as a starting pitcher and unfortunately my health, more accurately, my shoulder, has deteriorated to the point where surgery would be the only option and at this stage of my life I would prefer to call it a career rather than to attempt to pitch in relief for the final year of my contract."
The news of him retiring is a surprise considering it's January but the reasons given are not. Meche has had a long injury history which included missing the 2001 and 2002 seasons.
Check out Royals Review for more on the news.
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