Barry Zito announces retirement from baseball
It's been an up-and-down career for Barry Zito - a career where he was praised for his success and denounced for his struggles, and now it has come to an end.
The pitcher announced his retirement from baseball on The Player's Tribune Monday.
I'm retiring today from baseball, but I'll never be too far away from the game that made me who I am. I am beyond thankful to be at peace with walking away, thanks in large part to my year of renewal in Nashville with the Sounds. My return to Oakland last month was a "cherry on top" moment in my life that my family and I will never forget. I will no doubt be in the stands on both sides of the Bay in years to come.
Zito, 37, pitched 15 major-league seasons, all in the Bay Area, with the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants, winning a Cy Young in 2002.
The southpaw might be most famously remembered for leaving the Athletics for a seven-year deal with the Giants in 2006 worth $126 million, the richest contract for a pitcher in major-league history at the time.
Zito managed a 63-80 record with a 4.62 ERA during the life of the contract, which drew him criticism for the remainder of his career.
After not appearing in the bigs in 2014, the veteran returned to pitch in three games for the Athletics in 2015, posting a 10.29 ERA in the process.
Zito retires with a record of 165-143 with a 4.04 ERA and 1,885 strikeouts in 433 career appearances.