Left-hander Tony Watson is retiring after 11 seasons as one of the steadiest left-handed relievers in the majors, he told The Athletic on Monday.
Watson, 36, had a 2.90 ERA for the Pirates, Giants, Dodgers and Angels, ending with a return to San Francisco late last season. He posted a 2.96 ERA in a late-inning role for the Giants down the stretch, but a left shoulder strain kept him off the playoff roster. A free agent last offseason, Watson held workouts for MLB teams this spring but had lingering left shoulder issues and decided it was time to call it quits.
“Thank you to all my teammates, peers, coaches, and support staff for all the cherished memories along the way, for providing support to keep me on the field, and experiences that will last a lifetime," Watson said in a statement. "Thank you to the Pirates, Dodgers, Giants, and Angels organizations and their fans for the support and opportunity to live out a childhood dream. Thank you to my wife and kids for being with me every step of the way and to my family and friends for always being there and supporting me through it all."
A 2014 All-Star, Watson is MLB’s career leader in holds, with 246, passing Arthur Rhodes last year. The hold is an unofficial stat that’s only been recorded since 1999 — in which a pitcher enters in a save situation, records at least one out and departs with the lead — but it effectively describes Watson’s impact. He owned the late innings and preserved the lead.
From 2011 to 2021, Watson appeared in 689 games, 80 more than any other left-handed reliever in that span.
Drafted by the Pirates in the ninth round out of Nebraska in 2007, Watson debuted in 2011 and quickly became a fixture in the Pittsburgh bullpen, putting out fires by inducing weak contact from left-handed power bats, then evolving into a set-up reliever ahead of then-Pirates closer Mark Melancon.
Watson’s first postseason appearance was in the Pirates’ dramatic win in the 2013 NL Wild-Card Game against the Reds. He’d go on to pitch in 16 playoff games, with a 2.25 ERA.
(Photo: John Hefti / USA TODAY Sports)
