Kirby Yates announces retirement after 12 MLB seasons

Right-handed pitcher Kirby Yates has announced his retirement from Major League Baseball after 12 seasons. The announcement came following a game in which Yates pitched as an opener for the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 4-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers.

Yates, 39, expressed that he felt he had nothing left to give to the game, stating, “I’ve been running on fumes for a while. I think it’s just time.”

Throughout his career, Yates played for several teams, including the Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels, San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves, and the Los Angeles Dodgers. During the 2025 season, he was a member of the World Series champion Dodgers, though he did not make their postseason roster due to a hamstring injury and a 5.23 ERA.