Billy Wagner may have thrown his last pitch in the major leagues.
The former Mets pitcher told The Post yesterday he’s planning to retire rather than pursue a closer’s job — and 400 career saves — next season.
Wagner allowed two runs in two-thirds of an inning for the Red Sox on Sunday in Game 3 of the ALDS before closer Jonathan Papelbon surrendered three runs in the ninth. The Red Sox season ended with a 7-6 loss to the Angels.
“I don’t plan on talking to nobody,” Wagner said, when asked where he might pitch next season.
Does that mean retirement?
“Why wouldn’t I?” he said. “I’ve got nothing else to [accomplish].”
That’s a different picture than Wagner painted before leaving the Mets for the Red Sox in August as part of a waiver deal. The 38-year-old lefty, who returned from an 11-month hiatus after undergoing Tommy John surgery, had said his plan for next year was to pursue a closer’s job near his Virginia home — perhaps Washington, Baltimore or Cincinnati — and make a run at the 15 saves he needs to reach 400 for his career.
The Red Sox have agreed not to pick up Wagner’s $8.8 million option for next year, allowing him to become a free agent and pursue his goal.
But yesterday, Wagner indicated the saves milestone is not relevant to his decision.
“That’s just dust in the wind,” he said.
A source close to the situation said Wagner might just need a cooling period before deciding to pitch in 2010, but also cautioned that the lefty is making his family a priority and could very well be serious about rettirement. In 15 regular-season appearances for the Red Sox, Wagner went 1-1 with a 1.98 ERA. Wagner got two outs in the eighth inning on Sunday but then surrendered two hits, and Juan Rivera’s two-run single against Papelbon pulled the Angels within 5-4.