Veteran catcher Wilson announces his retirement

SEATTLE – Seattle Mariners catcher Dan Wilson, sidelined most of this season by a knee injury, announced his retirement Monday.

The 36-year-old Wilson tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee on May 4 while returning to first base after a teammate hit a fly ball against the Los Angeles Angels. He has been on the 60-day disabled list since May 6.

A career .251 hitter coming into this season, Wilson was batting .185 with two RBIs in 10 games. He spent 14 seasons in the major leagues, including 12 in Seattle.

Wilson was an All-Star for the Mariners in 1996, when he hit .285 with career highs of 18 homers and 83 RBIs.

He came to Seattle in a trade on Nov. 3, 1993, with right-hander Bobby Ayala in a deal that sent right-hander Erik Hanson and second baseman Bret Boone to the Cincinnati Reds.

Under manager Lou Piniella, Wilson became Seattle’s regular catcher, a job he held for 11 seasons until this spring, when he was relegated to backup duty before being injured.