Pitcher Moylan retires after 12 MLB seasons

Peter Moylan, a right-handed reliever who spent most of his 12-year career with the Braves, has decided to retire from baseball, the pitcher told The Athletic.

Moylan, who turned 40 in December, was limited to 39 appearances for Atlanta last season due to injury, posting a 4.45 ERA. Following a second Tommy John surgery in '14, he turned in three strong seasons for the Braves and Royals, over which he made 151 appearances with a 3.46 ERA and 1.18 WHIP.

"There’s a little part of me that knows that I can still pitch at that level, but it’s time to move on,” Moylan told The Athletic. “I’ve had my chance. The game is trending younger; I’m certainly not that. It’s time for me to let the kids play, so I’m done.”

The native Australian made his Major League debut with the Braves in '06, and his finest performance came the following season, when he finished with a 1.80 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 80 appearances for Atlanta.

A specialist at inducing contact on the ground, Moylan produced a ground-ball rate of better than 60 percent in eight of his 12 Major League seasons, which also included a brief stint with the Dodgers in '13.

According to The Athletic, Moylan did not enter the offseason planning to retire but made the decision after not receiving any offers. He plans on pitching in Italy this summer and competing for the Australian Olympic team.