Left-hander LeBlanc retires after 13-year career

Wade LeBlanc has decided to retire following a 13-year Major League career, sources told MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi on Saturday.

LeBlanc, 37, made his big league debut with the Padres back in 2008, and spent the first four seasons of his career with San Diego. The left-hander posted a 4.54 ERA over that span, which, incidentally, was the exact ERA he finished with for his career.

In November 2011, LeBlanc was traded to the Marlins, but only spent a season and a half in Miami before becoming a journeyman for the remainder of his career, both in starting and relief roles. He next had brief stints with the Astros, Angels and Yankees. He spent two seasons each with the Pirates and Mariners from 2016-19.

LeBlanc made six starts for the Orioles in the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, and spent last season split between the Orioles and Cardinals. After joining St. Louis in late June, he pitched well in 12 appearances (eight starts) to help keep an injury-plagued pitching staff afloat, posting a 3.61 ERA before the Cardinals eventually won a Wild Card spot. LeBlanc was sidelined from mid-August onward due to an elbow injury.

Overall, LeBlanc pitched 931 1/3 innings divided among nine different clubs over his 13-year career, finishing with a 4.54 ERA.