Albert Belle's career, known for big hits and big blowups, came to a quiet end Thursday.
The Baltimore Orioles said the outfielder was "totally disabled and unable to perform as a major league baseball player."
Belle was examined by two team doctors Wednesday and found to have a severe case of degenerative arthritis of the right hip.
"Belle has agreed that he is physically incapable of performing as a player and concurs with the findings of the doctors," the Orioles said in a statement.
Belle will be placed on the 60-day disabled list Friday the first step to protect the Orioles' insurance coverage of his contract, which guarantees the slugger $39 million in the next three years. About 70 percent of that total will be reimbursed to the team by the insurance company.
"It's a very sad event for a young man 34 years of age not to be able to play baseball again," said Syd Thrift, the Orioles' vice president of baseball operations.
When he played the game, Belle did it with vigor and sass. He hit 381 homers and drove in 1,239 runs over 12 seasons. He was also disciplined repeatedly for run-ins with fans, media and other players.
Without Belle, David Segui will bat cleanup and Chris Richard will play right field in most games this season. Jeff Conine will likely get the majority of at-bats as the right-handed designated hitter.
Elsewhere, Dodgers third baseman Adrian Beltre will have surgery Monday to close a wound in his abdomen from an emergency appendectomy two months ago. Beltre will not be ready by opening day and it is uncertain when the 21-year-old third baseman will return.
Beltre underwent an emergency appendectomy in his native Dominican Republic on Jan. 12 and hasn't eaten solid food since. The wound, in his right lower abdomen, has not healed as doctors expected.
Also, the Mets are done trying to make a deal for Gary Sheffield, general manager Steve Phillips said. Phillips talked again to Los Angeles GM Kevin Malone on Wednesday night and came away convinced there was no way to trade for the disgruntled Dodgers slugger.
Sheffield originally demanded to be traded to the Mets, New York Yankees or Atlanta. With no progress on a trade to those three teams, Sheffield told Los Angeles GM Kevin Malone this week that he would like to go to one of six other teams St. Louis, Cincinnati, the Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay, Kansas City or Texas. To make a trade more convenient, Sheffield said he would be willing to reduce his $10 million salary by half, with payment of the other $5 million deferred.
An finally, Kris Benson, expected to be the Pittsburgh Pirates' opening day starter, agreed Thursday to a $13 million, four-year contract. Benson, the top pick in the 1996 amateur draft, was 10-12 with a team-leading 3.85 ERA last season despite little run support and is 21-26 with a 3.95 ERA in two major league seasons.
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