Giants left-hander Jeremy Affeldt has decided to retire after an injury wrecked year, calling it a career at age 36 following 14 seasons in the majors with the Giants, Royals, Rockies, and Reds.
Affeldt was a top prospect as a starting pitcher in the Royals’ farm system, but mostly struggled as a starter in the big leagues and posted a 4.91 ERA in 427 innings through age 27.
He shifted to the bullpen full time in 2007 with the Rockies, found success, and then found a long-term home with the Giants as a free agent in 2009. Affeldt spent the final seven seasons of his career in San Francisco’s bullpen, throwing 360 innings with a 3.05 ERA in a setup role. He also had a 0.86 ERA in 31.1 playoff innings, quietly ranking among the best postseason relievers of all time while helping the Giants win three World Series.
Affeldt finishes with a 43-46 record, 28 saves, and a 3.97 ERA in 772 games spanning 925 innings, earning $42 million after being a third-round draft pick out of a Washington high school in 1997.
