Worrell retires from Giants

SAN FRANCISCO -- Relief pitcher Tim Worrell retired Wednesday after a 14-year career that ended with the San Francisco Giants.

Worrell pitched for nine teams as a reliever and an occasional starter. But the 39-year-old right-hander spent his final season bedeviled by problems with his throwing shoulder and neck, and he decided to retire after experiencing several setbacks in rehabilitation.

"I guess when you know it's the right move, it's a little easier," Worrell said. "I think I'm at a point where I've come to grips with my career [being] over. I feel like I can't get myself back to that level of competition."

Worrell was 48-59 with 71 saves and a 3.97 ERA over 678 career appearances. He spent his final season in San Francisco, beginning the year as the Giants' closer but pitching in his last game on June 8.

Worrell underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder in late August and expected to be ready for spring training. Instead, he spent the last two months failing to shake the persistent neck problems that can only be corrected by surgery.

Worrell decided the extra pain and aggravation wasn't worth another season in a lengthy career, so he retired with one season left on a two-year, $4 million contract with San Francisco.

Worrell, a 20th-round pick by the Padres in 1989, also pitched for San Diego, Detroit, Cleveland, Oakland, Baltimore and the Chicago Cubs.

He is the younger brother of former major league closer Todd Worrell, the 1986 National League Rookie of the Year with the St. Louis Cardinals and a three-time All-Star who left baseball in 1997.

Royals obtain Haltiwanger

The Kansas City Royals acquired minor league right-handed pitcher Russ Haltiwanger from the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday in exchange for infielder Jeff Keppinger.

Haltiwanger, 22, has pitched the past two seasons in the Reds minor league system after being drafted in the 29th round in 2005.

Meta reach agreement with Schoeneweis

Left-handed reliever Scott Schoeneweis, 33, and the New York Mets reached a preliminary agreement Wednesday on a $10.8 million, three-year contract.The deal is pending a physical.

The Mets, who reached the National League Championship Series Game 7 before losing to the St. Louis Cardinals, lost Chad Bradford, Roberto Hernandez and lefty Darren Oliver in free agency this offseason and needed to shore up their middle relief.

Schoeneweis split last season between Toronto and Cincinnati, going 4-2 with a 4.88 ERA and four saves in 71 games overall.

-- The Associated Press