Tuesday wasn’t the first time reliever Salomon Torres has announced his retirement from baseball. But it was the first time such an announcement put a crimp in the pitching plans of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Torres, 36, who was talked out of retirement last winter after the Brewers acquired him from Pittsburgh, called the team on Tuesday to say he will not return next season.
The decision will cost Torres $3.75 million, the price the Brewers were set to pay to pick up his option for next season.

Torres’ retirement after 12 major-league seasons did not come as a complete surprise to the Brewers because he had discussed the possibility with members of the organization last season.

“(Torres) had hinted that it might happen at the end of the year, so I was somewhat prepared for it,” general manager Doug Melvin said. “I guess it just goes to show it’s not all about the money for a guy like him.”

Torres, who started last season as the setup man for Eric Gagne, moved into the closer’s role in late May. He finished with a career-best 28 saves to go along with a 7-5 record and 3.49 ERA in 71 appearances.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved who helped make this season a memorable one for me,” Torres said in a statement. “While I still have great passion and energy for the game, I feel that the time has come to redirect that passion to my energy and God.”

Torres’ departure puts a premium on rebuilding the Brewers’ bullpen, which stands to lose Gagne, Guillermo Mota and Brian Shouse to free agency.

That is not unusual for Melvin, who has always approached the offseason as a time to revamp the bullpen.

“It’s no different than any other year,” he said. “We’ll just have to work hard during the winter meetings and the rest of the offseason to see what we can find.”

Those returning to the bullpen are right-handers Carlos Villanueva, David Riske, Seth McClung and Tim Dillard, who received a look last season, as well as left-hander Mitch Stetter. None has any extensive experience as a closer at the major-league level.

Torres first retired after spending the 1997 season with Seattle and Montreal and did not return to baseball until 2002 when he joined the Pirates. Following the trade to Milwaukee last offseason, Torres also announced his retirement, though the Brewers were able to convince him to report to spring training.

“I was caught more off-guard last year,” Melvin said. “But we heard the whispers at the end of the year.”

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