Infielder Carlos Guillen announces retirement
Three-time All-Star was invitee to Mariners Major League Spring Training
Infielder Carlos Guillen, a three-time All Star and veteran of 14 Major League seasons, informed the Seattle Mariners today that he is retiring. Guillen was in the Mariners Major League camp as a non-roster invitee.
Guillen, 36, is a veteran of 14 Major League seasons with Seattle (1998-2003) and Detroit (2004-2011). He finishes his career with a .285 (1331x4673) average with 733 runs, 266 doubles, 51 triples, 124 home runs, 660 RBI in 1,305 Major League games. He has appeared in games at first base (71, 39 starts), second base (84, 82 starts), third base (189, 183 starts), shortstop (856, 817 starts) and left field (48, 48 starts). In a five-season stretch from 2004-2008, Guillen was selected to three All-Star Games (2004, 2007, 2008) and combined to bat .308 (734x2383) with 157 doubles, 30 triples, 75 home runs and 361 RBI.
In 2011, Guillen hit .232 (22x95) with 8 runs, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs and 13 RBI in 28 games with the Tigers. He made 25 starts at second base and appeared in one game at first base. He missed substantial time with a pair of trips to the disabled list; March 30-July 16 recovering from left knee microfracture surgery and Aug. 14-Sept. 1 with a sore left wrist.
Guillen made his Major League debut with the Mariners in 1998, and played in 488 total games with Seattle from 1998-2003. He hit .264 (439x1665) with 80 doubles, 16 triples, 29 home runs and 211 RBI in his time with the Mariners. He is possibly best known for his walk-off bunt single in Game #3 of the 2000 American League Division Series vs. the Chicago White Sox.
Guillen appeared in the post-season in 2000, 2001 (with Seattle) and 2006 (with Detroit). He hit .353 (6x17) in his only World Series appearance, in 2006 as a member of the Tigers. In addition to the three All-Star Games, he was also a member of Team Venezuela in the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic.
Guillen was originally signed by the Houston Astros as an amateur free agent on Sept. 19, 1992. He was traded to Seattle, along with Freddy Garcia (and later John Halama as player to be named later) in exchange for Randy Johnson on July 31, 1998. The Mariners traded Guillen to Detroit for INF Ramon Santiago and INF Juan Gonzalez on January 8, 2004.