In the end, only a herniated cervical disk could drive Ian Kinsler from the game he played with rare intensity and singular dedication for 14 major-league seasons.



“To be honest, it was a factor in my decision,” Kinsler said of the condition, which prevented him from playing after Aug. 12 last season and helped lead to him announcing his retirement on Friday.



“My pride wouldn’t let me go halfway at something that I’ve been doing at 100 percent for my whole baseball life.”



Kinsler, 37, will remain with the Padres, the last of his five teams, in a front-office capacity. He is still owed $4.25 million on his contract, and will work out a financial settlement with the club.



“It just felt like this is the end, time to move on,” Kinsler said. “I gave it everything I had. It’s time to do something else.”



A 17th-round pick by the Rangers out of the University of Missouri in 2003,...