Derek Lowe 'officially' threw his last MLB pitch

Tom Pelissero | USA TODAY Sports

STATELINE, Nev. – Derek Lowe doesn't see the point in using the word "retirement" to signify the end of his 17-year major league career.

But Lowe left no room for interpretation after his practice round on Wednesday at the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament. He's done with baseball.

"I'm officially no longer going to play the game," Lowe said. "It's still enjoyable, but the role I was having wasn't fulfilling."

Lowe, 40, was 176-157 with a 4.03 earned-run average in 681 career games (377 starts) with seven teams and helped the Boston Red Sox break an 86-year championship drought in 2004.

But he bounced between three teams last season, then signed with the Texas Rangers, who cut him on May 23 after nine relief appearances.

"I told my wife 10 days before I got released," Lowe said. "I said, 'We're not going to make it all year,' because they had to make numerous moves. I was basically the 12th guy.

"I was grateful for the opportunity that they gave me in spring training. But having been able to be a starter or a closer throughout your career, being the mop-up long relief guy, I just turned 40 – let someone else try that. … There was no going to (Triple-A) Round Rock, put it that way."

Lowe made more than $110 million in his career with the Seattle Mariners, Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees and Rangers.

A Michigan native, Lowe said he'll return to rooting for the Tigers and spend more time with his wife and two children, including a son who plays baseball.

"Like I told my dad, I'll never retire," Lowe said. "If you're not playing, it's completely self-explanatory. I'm not going to go to the Hall of Fame, so I don't feel like I need to have a retirement speech. But I was able to play 17 years on some pretty cool teams and win a World Series. So, everyone's got to stop playing at some point, and this is my time."