Los Angeles Dodger’s pitcher Josh Beckett may be considering retirement. Neither the Dodgers nor Beckett have made an official announcement, although the reports came from some of Beckett’s teammates according to MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick.
Beckett has torn labrum and cysts in left hip. It won't heal w/o surgery. Teammates say he's done for the year, and might retire.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) August 8, 2014
Beckett was officially placed on the 15-day disabled list on Friday to make room for pitcher Roberto Hernandez. Hernandez was acquired by the Dodgers from the Philadelphia Phillies for two players to be named later or cash considerations.
Gurnick also says that on top of the torn labrum and cysts in his hip, Beckett is also suffering from a groin strain.
Reports of Beckett’s retirement have been conflicting however. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly reportedly said that the Dodgers have not ruled out Beckett’s return this season although that’s an interesting statement being that his hip is unlikely to heal without surgery.
The idea that Beckett, 34, may have to retire is an unfortunate one considering that he had almost reinvented himself in what was a brilliant comeback attempt. He, with a little help from catcher A.J. Ellis, didn’t change his pitches however he did change the way he used them. Beckett began throwing his curve ball a higher percentage of the time.
Despite a rough start to the beginning of the season, Beckett threw a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies in late May. He is 6-6 on the year with a 2.88 ERA in 20 starts for the Dodgers.
Beckett, however, has had the career most MLB players can only dream of. The three-time All-Star has two World Series rings and at just 23-years old he was MVP of the 2003 World Series with the Florida, now Miami, Marlins. In 2007 he got his second championship ring and was named MVP of the ALCS that year with the Boston Red Sox.
While he has accomplished a lot in 14 seasons, it would be a shame to see his career end early because of injury.