Billy Wagner . . . still retired!
Over the phone, the National League executive sounded concerned.
“What,” the exec asked, “is Billy Wagner still doing on the Braves’ roster?”
Wagner, 39, announced his retirement toward the end of last season. But as of 3 p.m. Thursday, he indeed remained on the Braves’ official roster.
What gives?
Wagner, after vesting his $6.5 million option for 2011, needs to formally remove himself from the roster, according to Braves general manager Frank Wren.
The Braves did not push Wagner to file his retirement papers; they did not need the roster spot and perhaps maintained hope that he would change his mind.
But Wagner’s agent, Bean Stringfellow, told Wren about a week ago that Wagner finally had filed his retirement papers.
In other words, he will be taken off the roster soon.
“Yes, he is retiring,” Stringfellow said.
— Ken Rosenthal
