MLB journeyman relief pitcher Chad Durbin announces retirement

May 5, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel (41) takes the ball from pitcher Chad Durbin (45) during the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park. The Marlins defeated the Phillies 14-2. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

After a 14-year career as a Major League relief pitcher with six different teams, Chad Durbin has officially retired.

Pitcher Chad Durbin, one of MLB's good guys, has retired. He was released by #phillies in late May.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) November 25, 2013

In the “Twitter era”, Durbin is probably best known as the butt of a joke for many diehard baseball fans who have experienced his wrath as a member of 6 different bullpens, but Durbin must have been doing something right to remain in the big leagues for 14 years. Over that time, he posted just a 5.03 career ERA (which is obviously less than spectacular), but in Durbin’s “prime”, he posted a 1.0 fWAR season with the Phillies in 2008 and a 1.9 fWAR season as a starting pitcher in Kansas City during the 2001 campaign.

There is certainly an argument (and likely a correct one) that Durbin should have been out of the league 3-4 seasons ago, as he has actually cost his teams 1.3 wins (according to FanGraphs) over the past 3 seasons combined. However, there is something to be said for a Major League level reliever in your bullpen, even in mop-up duty, and you have to congratulate Durbin on lasting 14 years in the league without the benefit of electric “stuff”.

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