Former Red Sox relief pitcher Eric Gagne told the French-Canadian Web site RueFrontenac.com that he has decided to retire, according to MLB.com.
Boston acquired the former Cy Young Award winner from the Texas Rangers at the trade deadline in 2007. Gagne had gone 2-0 with 16 saves and a 2.16 ERA in 34 appearances that season with the Rangers, but he struggled with the Sox, going 2-2 with a 6.75 ERA in 20 appearances as Boston won its second World Series title in four years.
Gagne’s best years came with the Los Angeles Dodgers. From 2002-04, he averaged 51 saves per season with a 1.79 ERA. His 55 saves and 1.20 ERA — both career bests — in 2003 earned him the NL Cy Young Award. From Aug. 26, 2002-July 5, 2004, Gagne converted a major-league record 84 consecutive saves.
After being named in the Mitchell Report in 2007, Gagne admitted that he used human growth hormone during his time with the Dodgers.
Gagne was never the same after undergoing elbow surgery in 2005 and back surgery in 2006. His last major-league season came with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2008, when he went 4-3 with 10 saves and a 5.44 ERA.
He spent the 2009 season with Quebec Capitales of the independent Can-Am League before signing a minor-league contract with the Dodgers in February. Gagne allowed six earned runs in 2 2/3 innings in spring training before he was assigned to minor-league camp. He accepted the assignment but then decided to retire instead of playing in the minors.
Gagne, 34, ends his career with a 33-26 record, 187 saves and a 3.47 ERA in 10 big-league seasons.
