Injuries force out Guillen By QMI Agency

Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki (R) of Japan, talks with Carlos Guillen during a MLB spring training camp in Peoria, Arizona, February 18, 2012. REUTERS/Rick Scuteri

Carlos Guillen cut short his bid for a spot in the Seattle Mariners lineup and announced his retirement Tuesday.

The 36-year-old infielder missed half of the 2011 season recovering from microfracture knee surgery, then was sidelined for two weeks by a wrist injury.

During the past three seasons with the Detroit Tigers he was limited to 177 games.

"It's a tough decision," Guillen said on the Mariners website. "I tried to come back but I couldn't. I've been through a lot of injuries.

"You have to keep your head up and be in the right position to keep going, but at this time your body tells you, you know?"

Guillen broke into the majors with Seattle in 1998 and moved to Detroit after six seasons.

He hit .285 in 1,305 major-league games over 14 seasons. The native of Venezuela had 124 home runs and 660 RBI and was an all-star in 2004, 2007 and 2008 while with Detroit.