Former All-Star Quentin announces retirement

HOUSTON -- Two-time American League All-Star Carlos Quentin asked for his release from the Mariners after five games with Triple-A Tacoma and announced his retirement from baseball on Friday.

"Over the past several days, it became clear to me that my injuries have taken too great of a physical toll for me to be able to perform at the level I expect from myself," said Quentin. "As a result, I believe it is the right time for me to walk away and to refocus my energy on the next chapter of my life with my family."

The 32-year-old hit .176 (3-for-17) with a double and one RBI with Tacoma after agreeing to a Minor League deal on April 22. The Mariners were going to give the former outfielder a look at first base and designated hitter.

"My understanding is his body just wasn't holding up," Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said.

Quentin is still owed $8 million this season by the Braves, who released him on April 14 after being acquired nine days earlier as part of a trade that sent Cameron Maybin and Matt Wisler to Atlanta for Craig Kimbrel and Melvin Upton Jr.

Quentin dealt with knee issues much of the past two years and hit .177 with four home runs and 18 RBIs in 50 games last season for San Diego. He had two stints on the disabled list, missing 39 games at the start of the season with a bone bruise in his left knee and 58 games at the end of the year due to soreness in the same knee.

He's a career .252/.347/.484 hitter with 154 home runs and 491 RBIs in nine Major League seasons with the D-backs (2006-07), White Sox (2008-2011) and Padres (2012-14) after being drafted out of Stanford in the first round in 2003 by Arizona.

Quentin was an American League All-Star and Silver Slugger winner in 2008 with the White Sox when he hit .288 with 36 homers and 100 RBIs. He earned his second All-Star selection in 2011 when he batted .254 with 24 homers and 77 RBIs, his fourth straight season with 20-plus homers.