Former Cy Young Winner Announces Retirement

He hasn't pitched in the major leagues since 2020, but it wasn't until a Boston-based podcast appearance Monday morning that the 33-year-old 12-year veteran Rick Porcello officially announced his retirement. 

"This is Rick Porcello," he said on the WEEI podcast. "I want to tell all the listeners I’m retired. Thank you for all the great memories, and thanks for everything."

Rick Porcello just announced that he’s officially retiring from the great game of Baseball, thank you for the memories! (@bradfo) pic.twitter.com/tRCNiSnuP8

— Boston Strong (@BostonStrong_34) December 5, 2022

"I was very fortunate to have the years I had in the big leagues," Porcello explained on WEEI. "I think Covid lent some perspective on my life. I wanted to be with my family. I wanted to get back into that type of lifestyle and be around them because every year that you’re gone is another year where your parents are getting older, and your brothers are getting older. I think Covid impacts a lot of people like that.

"There was some interest (in 2021), but I had two horsesh*t years back-to-back so not that much interest." 

Those final two "horsesh*t" seasons Porcello referred to include his final season with the Boston Red Sox IN 2019, when he had a 5.52 ERA with a 1.39 WHIP, and then in the shortened 2020 season with the New York Mets, he was 1-7, and struggled to a 5.64 ERA with a 1.51 WHIP. 

2016 was the highlight of Porcello's career, going 22-4 with the Red Sox, with a 3.15 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 33 starts, winning the American League Cy Young. 

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