According to Jenifer Langosch at MLB.com, right-hander Matt Morris has decided to finally call it quits, announcing his retirement from the game. As reported here at Fleece Factor, Morris was released by the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday. The team will still pay him for the remainder of this season and a $1 million buyout on his 2009 option, totaling roughly $11 million. Morris was 0-4 with a 9.67 ERA in 5 starts this season before being let go by the Bucs.

Morris had this to say about the announcement, “It’s over and I’m happy where I am right now. In my heart, I’m happy. At the end, it all came to a head very quickly, but I’ve had a great career. It was time to move on and, obviously, the Pirates felt the same way.”

In 307 career games (276 starts), Morris had a record of 121-92, with a 3.98 ERA and .269 opponent’s batting average.  

Filed under: Pittsburgh Pirates