Report: Joe Blanton Has Retired

That’s right, according to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register, Joe Blanton has retired. After a 10 year long career including tenures with the Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Blanton finishes with a career ERA of 4.51, win to loss ratio of 85-89, and 1086 strike outs.

Blanton was drafted in the first round, 22nd overall, by the Oakland Athletics in their famous “Moneyball” draft in 2002. He only played 2 years in the minor leagues before making his major league debut in 2004 against the Texas Rangers. His career started off fairly bright: leading the Athletics in most wins by a rookie (12), and leading the majors in lowest ERA among rookies with 100 or more innings pitched. He was also the only rookie to post two complete games in 2005.

Blanton was released by the Angels in late March of 2014, where he proceeded to sign a minor league contract with his former team the Oakland A’s. He only made 2 appearances for their AAA affiliate, (all starts) before his retirement. Fletcher also noted that the Angels still owe Blanton the $7.5 M left on his contract because the Angels released him before he decided to retire.