Kirby Yates Announced Retirement After 12 MLB Seasons
The 39-year-old pitcher ends his professional career after recording 101 career saves.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Baseball
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Veteran pitcher Kirby Yates has announced his immediate retirement from Major League Baseball following a 12-season career. Yates made his first and final start of his career on September 26, 2026, in Detroit.
Why it matters
Yates elected to walk away from the sport after more than a decade of professional play to prioritize time with his children. His career spanned eight different organizations and saw him transition from a long-time reliever to a starter for his final appearance.
Kirby Yates finished his 12-year MLB career with a 32-29 win-loss record and 101 total saves. During his final 2026 season split between the Angels and Pirates, he posted a 2-5 record with a 3.19 ERA.
The players
Kirby Yates
He is a 39-year-old professional baseball player who concluded his 12-year career in 2026.
Don Kelly
He is the manager who selected Yates to start his final game in the major leagues.
Detroit Tigers
They are the Major League Baseball team that served as the opponent in Yates final game.
Pittsburgh Pirates
They are the professional baseball club that acquired Yates during the 2026 season.
Los Angeles Angels
They are the professional baseball team that employed Yates prior to his trade in 2026.
The details
Manager Don Kelly tapped Yates to start a bullpen game against the Detroit Tigers, marking his first start in 518 career appearances. The pitcher played until he was removed by his manager with two outs in the first inning.
Timeline
Kirby Yates started his final MLB game on September 26, 2026.
The Los Angeles Angels traded Yates to the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 3, 2026.
The Big Picture
This retirement marks a rare career-ending start that evokes historical pitching longevity comparisons like the June 2012 starter pairing. The event follows the precedent set by the June 2012 oldest pitcher combination start.
Yates leaves the game with 101 career saves, solidifying his legacy as a reliable late-inning arm over his 518 appearances. Fantasy players and team front offices must now adjust their bullpens following the departure of the veteran right-hander.
The takeaway
Professional athletes frequently shift their career roles in their final seasons to accommodate team needs or personal milestones. Yates demonstrates that even after a decade in the bullpen, players can still secure unique opportunities like a final career start.
Further reading
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