Dodgers pitcher Josh Beckett retires at 34

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dodgers pitcher Josh Beckett, facing surgery for a torn labrum in his left hip that caused him to miss most of the last three months of the season, has retired at 34, ending a 14-year career that included two World Series championships.

He threw a no-hitter in May, but landed on the disabled list for the third time in early August with a left hip impingement after being on the DL in July for the same injury. He was 6-6 with a 2.88 ERA in 20 starts, including the no-hitter May 25 at Philadelphia.

Beckett’s first time on the DL was in March, when he had a bruised right thumb.

He announced his decision to retire in St. Louis after the Dodgers were eliminated in the National League Division Series on Tuesday night, according to MLB.com.

Beckett will undergo hip surgery in May.

He missed most of last season after having surgery to remove a rib near his neck to alleviate thoracic outlet syndrome.

Beckett had a career record of 138-106 and a 3.88 ERA. He won the World Series with the Marlins in 2003 and Red Sox in 2007.

He came to the Dodgers from Boston in the 2012 blockbuster trade with Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Nick Punto for James Loney and four minor leaguers.

Beckett would have been a free agent this winter, so his departure frees up $15.75 million in payroll.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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