Mauer retires after 15 years with Twins

Minnesota Twins star JoeMauer has decided to retire after 15 seasons.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported yesterday that Mauer has taken out an ad in its Sunday paper to announce his retirement. The newspaper reported that Mauer, who missed significant time this season with a concussion, says in the ad that his decision “came down to my health and my family.”

“Thank you, Minnesota Twins, and thank you, fans, for making my career as special and memorable as it was,” Mauer writes in the ad, the Star Tribune reported. “Because of you I can leave the game I love with a full and grateful heart.” ...

Trevor Rosenthal finalized a one-year contract this week that guarantees him $7 million, and he could earn $30 million over two years if he becomes the Washington Nationals’ closer and regularly finishes games.

Worcester native J.P. Ricciardi is leaving the New York Mets after eight seasons. The Mets announced his decision 11 days after hiring Brodie Van Wagenen to succeed Sandy Alderson as general manager. Ricciardi was hired as a special assistant to Alderson in November 2010 . ...

Pittsburgh pitcher Cristian Charle and San Diego pitcher Heriberto Sosa have been each been suspended for the first 72 games of next season under baseball’s minor league drug program following positive tests for the performance-enhancing substance Stanozolol. The commissioner’s office also announced Oakland pitcher Oscar Tovar has been suspended 50 games after a positive test for the banned stimulant Phentermine.