Klesko retiring from majors after 16-year career, agent says

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IRVINE, Calif. -- Ryan Klesko is retiring after 16 seasons in the major leagues, agent Joe Sambito said Friday.

Klesko, an All-Star in 2001 with San Diego, hit .260 last season with six homers and 44 RBIs in 362 at-bats for the San Francisco Giants. He played in only six games the previous year for the Padres because of shoulder surgery. The 36-year-old became a free agent following the World Series and didn't sign.

For his career, Klesko batted .279 with 278 homers and 987 RBIs. His best season was 2001, when he hit .286 with 30 homers and 113 RBIs.

He spent seven seasons with San Diego after playing his first eight years in the big leagues with the Atlanta Braves.

The news of Klesko's retirement comes after a February report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in which Klesko told his former Braves' teammate Chipper Jones he was opting for retirement. Jones and Klesko played together in Atlanta from 1993-99.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the Boston Red Sox were believed to have some interest in Klesko before signing Sean Casey to a one-year deal on Feb. 5.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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