Carlos Guillen, a three-time All Star and veteran of 14 MLB seasons, informed the Mariners Tuesday that he is retiring. Guillen, 36, had been in the Mariners spring training camp as a non-roster invitee, and was trying to become a two-time Mariner. Guillen launched his career with Seattle in 1998, and played with the Mariners until 2003, when the club traded him to Detroit.
Guillen made three All-Star teams (2004, 2007, 2008), all as a member of the Tigers, and finishes with a career batting average of .285 with 733 runs, 266 doubles, 51 triples, 124 home runs, and 660 RBIs in 1,305 games. He has appeared in games at first base (71, 39 starts), second base (84, 82 starts), third base (189, 183 starts), shortstop (856, 817 starts) and left field (48, 48 starts).
Guillen was attempting to resurrect his career after spending substantial down time in 2011 due to injuries. His March 30-July 16 trip to the disabled list resulted from left knee microfracture surgery. His Aug. 14-Sept. 1 disabled list visit resulted from a sore left wrist.
Guillen made his big league debut with the Mariners in 1998, and played in 488 total games from 1998-2003. He hit .264 with 80 doubles, 16 triples, 29 home runs and 211 RBI in his time with the Mariners. He is possibly best recalled for a walk-off bunt single in Game 3 of the 2000 American League Division Series vs. the Chicago White Sox.
He enjoyed his best season in Seattle in 2003, when he hit .276 with seven home runs and 52 RBIs. His best major league season occurred in 2006 for Detroit, when Guillen batted .320 with 174 hits and 85 RBIs.
Guillen made two postseason appearances on behalf of the Mariners, in 2000 and 2001.
Guillen was originally signed by the Houston Astros as an amateur free agent Sept. 19, 1992. He was traded to Seattle, along with Freddy Garcia (and later John Halama as player to be named later) in exchange for Randy Johnson July 31, 1998.
In one of their worst ever swaps, the Mariners traded Guillen to Detroit for INF Ramon Santiago and INF Juan Gonzalez January 8, 2004. Neither Santiago nor Gonzalez ever did anything for Seattle, while Guillen evolved into an All-Star.
