KANSAS CITY (Reuters) - Kansas City Royals pitcher Gil Meche retired from Major League Baseball (MLB) on Tuesday, walking away from the $12 million remaining on his contract because of ongoing trouble with a shoulder injury.
"A lot of people might think I'm crazy for not trying to play and make this amount of money but I don't think I'm going to regret it" he told MLB's website (http://mlb.com/).
Meche's financial future was already secured after signing a five-year, $55-million contract prior to the 2007 season.
Back and shoulder injuries restricted the 2007 All-Star in the past two seasons and he said he did not want to spend much of his final year struggling for fitness.
"I didn't want to go try it again for another season and be the guy making $12 million and doing absolutely nothing to help this team," said the 32-year-old.
Meche, selected by Seattle in the first round of the 1996 draft, spent six seasons with the Mariners before joining the Royals in 2007.
After missing two seasons because of shoulder problems that required arthroscopic surgery, Meche returned in 2003 and won the American League Comeback Player of the Year award.
Meche finishes his career with a record of 84-83 and a 4.49 ERA in 258 games with the two clubs.
(Reporting by Simon Evans in Miami; Editing by Frank Pingue)
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