"As a competitor my entire life this is the hardest decision that I've ever faced, but it's not fair to me, my family or the Kansas City Royals that I attempt to pitch anymore. I came into this game as a starting pitcher and unfortunately my health, more accurately, my shoulder, has deteriorated to the point where surgery would be the only option and at this stage of my life I would prefer to call it a career rather than to attempt to pitch in relief for the final year of my contract." That's Meche statement... I bet MLBPA will file something saying Meche should get some of that $12 mil cuz of injury-related issues or some type of excuse... I mean isn't that how Albert Belle was getting his money even though he was retired cuz of his injury? I mean Bobby Bonilla this year is getting paid by the Mets every year for the next 25 years (by buying out last year of his contract). I mean that contract was guaranteed, but retiring void that contract somehow? I just can't see how the owner will get to keep that $12 mil to himself... albert belle was forced to retire because he had a degenerative hip that was only going to get worse. bobby bonilla has nothing to do with this; the mets decided to pay him later rather than pay him at the time the money was due (and bonilla agreed because it was a sweet deal for him). he didn't just walk away, the mets struck a deal with him that made him go away. meche has the option to get surgery and attempt to come back and pitch some more; he is choosing not to do that. Belle didn't "retire" until his contract was up.