Ailing Josh Beckett Considering Retirement, Will Decide After Season

Josh Beckett’s latest injury has him thinking about hanging up his cleats.

The Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander was recovering from a hip injury when doctors told him he’d need surgery to repair a torn labrum. Beckett admitted Friday that he has been shut down for the season and he’s considering retirement.

“As far as the progress has gone with this thing, I think Donnie (Mattingly) said it yesterday. It’s just not going to happen this year,” Beckett said, via ESPN Los Angeles’ Mark Saxon. “As far as the future goes, for next year, I think I’m going to have to think about that and talk to my wife a little bit more.”

Saxon said Beckett, who’s 34, sounded as though he was leaning toward retirement, but the former Boston Red Sox pitcher won’t make a final decision until the season is over. Beckett mentioned that he started to consider retirement as he noticed how much harder it was to get his body ready for his starts. He cited his declining health as a reason his decision will be easier.

“At some point, you decide, ‘Is this really worth trying to get myself ready for another season when you know the stuff that goes into it,’ ” Beckett said. “It’s not the pitching part that bothers you. I probably felt best on the days I pitched. It’s the other days leading up to it. I’m not announcing anything right now. I don’t know if the decision will be made before Christmas. It may be the day after the season, it may be January.”

Beckett threw his first career no-hitter earlier this year and is 6-6 with a 2.88 ERA in 20 starts on the season. He’s 138-106 with a 3.88 ERA in 14 major league seasons and won World Series rings with the Marlins (2003) and Red Sox (2007).

Photo via Chris Humphreys/USA TODAY Sports Images