The AJC has the scoop on Billy Wagner announcing that he will retire:
Billy Wagner will retire at the end of this season, the 38-year-old closer told Braves manager Bobby Cox on Friday.
Wagner, who is sixth all-time in saves with 386, still wants to reach 400 for his career but he’ll give himself only the rest of this season to get there. He said he will not play out his $6.5 million option for next season, which automatically vests if he finishes 50 games.
He wants to spend more time with his family. [...]
"I told my kids I’d play one more year and that’s it, and the Braves just threw in the option," Wagner said.
I guess the option was wishful thinking on our part. Start the Craig Kimbrel countdown clock. We need him to get some quality mentoring time with Wags. It's a shame he's retiring really. He looks to still have great stuff, and if the Braves were winning more he'd be a shoe-in to become the lefty with the most saves all time. The guys in the pen have a whole year to talk Wags into staying. I mean, who would you rather hang out with, your family or Peter Moylan and Kris Medlen? Easy choice... the tattooed fools.
0 recs | 17 comments
No kidding re: Kimbrel. The sooner they call him up the better, he can use all the pointers he can get to sort out his BB issues.
J-Freak - April 30, 2010
Will miss Wags if he does retire...
Who knows, the Braves may get on a huge winning streak and maybe he’ll reconsider and come back… If he does in fact retire, I really hope the Braves can give him the opportunity for 400 saves this season. I’d love to see him do that in a Braves uniform. At least he finally got his wish (and his grandfather’s)…to play for the Atlanta Braves.
Tina Robinson - April 30, 2010
Medlen
Kris Medlen is like 5’9 and looks like he’s 14.
traphicg - April 30, 2010
Random post is random
J-Freak - April 30, 2010 via mobile
haha
Smoltz's Beard - May 1, 2010
wtf?
Who announces this in April?
Richard R - April 30, 2010
Hello closer by committee in 2011.
bravos1984 - April 30, 2010
more like hello David Price 2.0
GeneParmesan - April 30, 2010
umm Craig Kimbrel? He’s pretty good.
Scott Coleman - April 30, 2010
I hope so.
bravos1984 - April 30, 2010
Yeah, he’s nasty. The other day in Durham he was hitting 93 on his warm-up pitches. His fastballs in the actual game were 96-97, with movement. He adds in a plus slider, and will throw a change up when he needs to. Control has been his only problem, but has improved this year.
Rhyno18 - April 30, 2010
With Moylan as well...
I think Saito is arb eligible, there are options.
Mr. Sanchez - May 2, 2010
I’d like to see the FO order the pitching coach at Gwinnett to have Kimbrell work out whatever kinks or flaws he has now, since he’s the closer next season. No if, ands, or butts about it.
Hopefully Kimbrell get’s called up later in the year for some real mentoring from Wags.
Mighty Healthy - April 30, 2010
CK needs to follow Wags like a little puppy dog
Scott Coleman - April 30, 2010 via mobile
This isn't so bad.
We have Craig Kimbrel, who has drawn comparisons to Wagner himself. I think Kimbrel will eventually be a perinnial all-star closer.
GouldisGold - April 30, 2010
He’s had a great career regardless of when he retires, but I really wouldn’t make too much of this announcement. Just last year he was talking about how he wanted to pass John Franco for most saves by a LHP. I think there’s a very good chance that he does decide to play next year (at least). It’s not like he’s in his 40s. He can definitely still pitch. The good news is that the presence of Kimbrel means we don’t have to be too nervous about his decision (though I’d still rather have him come back).
Jacob Peterson - May 1, 2010
Maybe he's going to play for the Vikings instead
Lizziebeth - May 3, 2010
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