Dominican Reliever Guillermo Mota Retiring After 14 Seasons In Big Leagues

ST LOUIS, MO - OCTOBER 18: Guillermo Mota #59 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game Four of the National League Championship Series at Busch Stadium on October 18, 2012 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) (2012 Getty Images)

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) – Reliever Guillermo Mota has announced he is retiring after 14 seasons in the major leagues.

Mota did not pitch last season, and was a non-roster invitee to the Kansas City Royals camp who was unlikely to make the 40-man squad.

"He’s had a great career," Royals manager Ned Yost told the Kansas City Star. "He’s a great kid."

The 40-year-old right-hander made 743 career relief appearances with a 3.94 ERA for the Montreal Expos, Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, Cleveland Indians, New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers and San Francisco Giants. He was part of San Francisco's World Series championship teams in 2010 and 2012.

A native of San Pedro de Macorís in the Dominican Republic, Mota was originally drafted by the New York Mets as an infielder in 1990, and was switched to pitcher by the Montreal Expos, who claimed him in 1996 in the Rule 5 draft.

In 2003 and '04, Mota topped National League relievers in innings pitched.

In 2007 while with the Mets, he was suspended 50 games for using performance-enhancing drugs.