Alas, Carlos Guillen's 36-year-old body could take no more. After three disappointing seasons riddled with injury along the stretch of a 14-year MLB career, the former Tiger has announced his retirement.
Fox News and USA Today confirmed Guillen's retirement.
Guillen signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners organization during the offseason after the Tigers declined to make an offer for his services. Guillen played in only 177 games for the Tigers over the past three seasons, and only 28 last season after undergoing microfracture knee surgery as well as sustaining a wrist injury.
Guillen spent the longest stretch of his career in Detroit, arriving in 2004 after spending his first six major league seasons with Seattle.
His career in the Tigers organization was prosperous during his first five seasons with the club. Over that stretch he was a three-time All-Star (2004, 2007, 2008) and twice hit .320 for the season (2005, 2006). In his eight seasons as a Tiger he holds a career batting average of .297.
In 1,305 career games, Guillen never struck out more than 96 times in a season. He was a specimen at the plate and battled pitchers deep in the count, content with fouling pitches off until he got the one he liked. He finishes his career with a .355 OBP and .443 slugging percentage.
Guillen initially signed with the Houston Astros as an amateur free agent in 1992. He was traded to Seattle as part of the deal that sent Randy Johnson to Houston on July 31, 1998. The Mariners traded him to Detroit in January 2004.
Tigers fans will remember Guillen best for his performance in the 2006 World Series after an outstanding season, hitting 41 doubles, 19 home runs and 85 RBI. Against the Cardinals he hit .353 over five games during the Tigers' World Series loss.
Guillen may have left Detroit this winter, but Tigers fans will always have a place for him in their hearts.
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