TUESDAY: Blanton has been released by the Athletics, tweets Chris Cotillo of MLBDailyDish.com.
SUNDAY, 9:57pm: Fletcher now clarifies that Blanton has left the Athletics' Triple-A team, but it's unclear whether he's actually retiring.
8:56pm: Longtime starting pitcher Joe Blanton has retired, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register tweets. Fletcher notes that the Angels are still on the hook for the remainder of Blanton's $7.5MM salary for 2014, plus a $1MM buyout for 2015, even though Blanton has started two games for the Athletics' Triple-A team in Sacramento this year. The Angels released Blanton in March.
The Athletics drafted Blanton out of the University of Kentucky with the 24th pick in the first round in 2002, making him the second selection in their "Moneyball" draft class, after Nick Swisher. Blanton made his big-league debut in 2004, then became a regular in the A's rotation in 2005. After several years eating innings in Oakland, Blanton headed to Philadelphia for Josh Outman and two other prospects in 2008. Blanton pitched in the World Series for the Phillies in both 2008 and 2009, and the Phils signed Blanton to a three-year extension prior to the 2010 season. He stuck with the Phillies until 2012 before they traded him to the Dodgers for the stretch run that year.
Blanton then signed an ill-fated two-year, $15MM deal with the Angels, struggling while posting a 6.04 ERA with 7.3 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 132 2/3 innings last season. Blanton, 33, finishes his career with a 4.51 ERA, 6.2 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 1,567 1/3 innings.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
I don’t want to kick someone when they’re down so I won’t say anything. But Joe hasn’t been good for quite sometime, this was the right thing to do.
Now who are we supposed to make fun of?!
Well I guess Bartolo Colon is still pitching.
Joe Saunders is a pretty good option. You just have to change last names.
Aw, I like Joe Saunders!
Weird story: I threw my first ever perfect game on The Show (2011 I believe) with Saunders. I’ve only thrown two, that one and one with James Shields.
Bartolo Colon is effective.
Yeah but he looks like Shrek.
Heh, you’re right, I never thought about that.
That would be Kevin Mench…
Colon is Love, Colon is Life.
He is effective on a subset of days that does not include yesterday.
Not yesterday >:(
These former phillies stars are dropping like flies
First lidge
Then Doc
Then Oswalt
And now Blanton
I would like to see him come in an officially retire as a Phillie. He did win a ring with us
That’s what happens when you have all old people on your team.
Star? When was Blanton a star? Lol. In his 5 years at philly he had a 4.47 ERA
Big Joe Blanton was a fan favorite here after this WS HR.
4 Aces and Joe Blanton were a decent band for 1 year.
Rollins has a pretty good chance at retiring with the Phillies.
How often do guys with 4.51 career ERAs sign one day contracts?
For relief: Chad Durbin, maybe Chad Qualls, Ryan Madson,
I figure we owe him that much just for the WS HR.
I never knew he was born and raised in/near Bowling Green, KY. I made many beer runs there once upon a time.
Cool story bro
he hit a HR in a world series game he won as a SP. could be mentioned in his retirement article
As much flak as he gets, he was a pivotal part of a Phillies rotation that wasn’t as deep as you would expect a WS winning team to be.
What? You mean most WS rotations dont have Brett Myers and Jamie Moyer as their #2 & #3 SP respectively?
2002 isn’t their moneyball season, because there is no such thing as a moneyball season. It’s an in-going philosophy that has been around way before 02
Read Moneyball, then you’ll understand what they were referring to
Oh I read it. I know the season is chronicled. It’s just said incorrectly.
They probably meant “moneyball draft”
Made fun of him a lot but the truth is he was a good back end starter and inning eater. Good luck in your future endeavors.
He barely lasted 5 innings.
Say it ain’t so Joe….. Say it ain’t so!!
This is surprising. Blanton had some trouble with the long ball in 2013, but his walk and K numbers were still consistent. Probably could have filled the back of a rotation for a couple more years. At the very least, he could have been a long reliever for a lot of clubs.
Walk numbers were good but K’s don’t necessarily determine a good pitcher. Yes, he did have a 2.0 HR/9, but the elephant in the room seems to be a 12.9 H/9 rate. He may have been in the K zone, and limited his walks, but his stuff floated and he got hit very hard in 2013. And that seemed to be the case in AAA this season. Good thing for the A’s they weren’t so depleted they had to use Blanton in their rotation. Probably would’ve sunk their ship all on his own the same way he did with the Angels last season. Better for him to be honest with himself and just walk away. I respect that.
You’ll always have the World Series HR Joe
The River Cats just got a bit better.
I threw one perfect game in the show and it was a fun trip to the beachy XD! I also threw two no hitters with King Felix :D. I don’t know if he takes that money and runs…who knows…if he gives back what was still due to him on his contract I applaud the move, else I say it as a cashout and run.
Huh? He didn’t quit on Anaheim. They released him. Whether he pitches for another team, retires, or gets a job at Wendy’s, no one should expect him to give up what they guaranteed him.
Doesn’t he forfeit the rest of his contract if he retires?
From the article:
“Whether Blanton intends to pitch again is unclear, but under any circumstances the Angels will owe him the remainder of his $15 million contract, which had $8.5 million to go this year, including a $1 million buyout of a 2015 option.”
a lot of people and one team in-particular sure wishes!
Now Blanton and Vernon Wells can hang out together while cashing the Angels’ paychecks.
Well, I will remember Blanton for his fielding.
2007 AL: 230 IP, 1.000 FP
2009 NL: 195 IP, 1.000 FP
I spent a few years in Philly during his run there and watched Big Joe pitch alot of games at the Bank. He wasn’t really……say, good? But he always seemed to be a gamer, and the Philly fans took him in as one of their own. Surprised to see him hang em up.
Unfortunate outcome for Blanton. I guess it was time. Good luck.
Joe blanton is a great guy but his pitches were not in the strike zone
Joe Bags, Joe Bistro, Joey Blanks. Whenever I’d get tix to a Phillies game I always would hope that I wouldn’t get Blantoned.