UNDATED (AP) — Former Cubs and Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester has announced his retirement. The durable left-hander who won three World Series titles during 16 years in the majors told ESPN, “It’s kind of run its course.”
Lester finishes with a 200-117 record and a 3.66 ERA in 452 career games, including 451 starts. He also was a reliable postseason performer, compiling a 2.51 ERA in 26 appearances.
Lester helped Boston win the championship in 2007 and 2013 and did the same for the 2016 Cubs.
In other baseball news:
— The Rays say bullpen catcher Jean Ramirez died unexpectedly this week at the age of 28. The Rays didn’t release details of the death, which it said occurred Monday. Ramirez played three years in Tampa Bay’s minor league system before beginning a three-season stint as a bullpen catcher with the major league team.
— The Twins will retire the uniform number of former pitcher Jim Kaat, who was recently elected to the Hall of Fame. Kaat spent 13 seasons with the Twins and remains their all-time leader with 178 wins.
— The Orioles are moving the wall in left field back as much as 30 feet in an effort to make Camden Yards a bit easier on pitchers. The Orioles hit 122 home runs at home last year and 73 on the road. Baltimore’s pitchers allowed 155 homers at home, compared to just 103 on the road.
— Rachel Balkovec has been introduced as manager of the Yankees’ Low A affiliate in the Florida State League. In taking over the Tampa Tarpons, Balkovec will become the first female manager in the history of affiliated baseball, an appointment 10 years in the making for the former college softball player. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman says “the sky’s the limit” for the 34-year-old Balkovec, who has two master’s degrees and hopes to one day become a general manager herself.
