Brian Fuentes has announced his retirement from baseball.

Fuentes' numbers have declined the last few years, but ultimately it was wanting to spend more time with his family that led him to hanging up his cleats. "Ultimately, I was just having trouble with the time away from my family," Fuentes, 37, said. "I've been playing baseball for all of their lives, but I'd never been so far away as when I was in St. Louis. I think at one point I went like two months without seeing them. Coming home and being able to put them to bed at night made me realize what I was missing." A 12-year veteran, Fuentes finishes his career with a 3.62 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 204 saves.

Cardinals placed LHP Brian Fuentes on the restricted list.

Fuentes asked to step away from the team to deal with a personal mater. It's not clear when he might be back.

Cardinals purchased the contract of LHP Brian Fuentes from Double-A Springfield.

Fuentes signed a minor league deal with the Cardinals earlier this month and tossed three scoreless innings between the organization's Gulf Coast League affiliate and Double-A Springfield. The 36-year-old southpaw really struggled with the A's this season, but the Cardinals are hoping he can be an asset in middle relief.

Brian Fuentes has been moved up to Double-A Springfield following a pair of scoreless appearances for the Cardinals' Gulf Coast League club.

Fuentes will pitch Monday for Springfield and will appear in back-to-back games for them before likely being added to the major league roster. He could be ready to join the Cards by next weekend.

Brian Fuentes threw a scoreless inning Friday with the Gulf Coast League Cardinals.

Fuentes will appear in at least one more game before being moved to Triple-A Memphis. When promoted, the Cardinals will use him in low-pressure situations initially.

Brian Fuentes will start for the Gulf Coast League Cardinals Friday and is also scheduled to appear for them on Saturday.

Fuentes has been working out with the club after signing with the Cardinals a week ago and is now ready to appear in some games. Though the Cards haven't put a set timetable on when Fuentes will join them, he seems likely to in a week or so if all goes well.

Cardinals signed LHP Brian Fuentes to a minor league contract.

Fuentes posted a 6.84 ERA in 25 innings with Oakland prior to his release, and will look to rebound this season with the Cardinals. If promoted to the majors, he'll earn a prorated amount of the veteran minimum.

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports that veteran reliever Brian Fuentes is "likely" to join the Cardinals.

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak confirmed the club's interest on Friday, so it doesn't come as a big surprise. Fuentes was granted his release by the A's this week after posting a 6.84 ERA and 18/10 K/BB ratio over 25 innings this season. The 36-year-old southpaw will likely pitch in middle relief.

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak confirmed Friday that he has interest in free agent left-hander Brian Fuentes.

This confirms a report by Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com last week. Fuentes recently cleared release waivers after being designated for assignment by the A's earlier this month. The veteran southpaw can sign with another team for a pro-rated portion of the major league minimum. Heyman reported Friday that six teams have interest and Mozeliak expects there to be some resolution this weekend.

Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reports that the Dodgers have no interest in Brian Fuentes.

Fuentes was officially released by the Athletics on Wednesday after being designated for assignment last week. The A's are on the hook for his remaining salary (about $2.5 million another $250,000 to buy out his 2013 option), but he's now free to sign anywhere at the major league minimum. The 36-year-old left-hander will likely catch on somewhere as a middle reliever or left-handed specialist.

Athletics released LHP Brian Fuentes.

Fuentes cleared waivers after being designated for assignment last week, which is no surprise given that he's still owed around $3 million for the rest of the season. The 36-year-old left-hander had an ugly 6.84 ERA and 18/10 K/BB ratio over 25 innings before the A's gave him the boot, but it shouldn't take too long for him to find a new home.

The Cardinals are interested in Oakland's Brian Fuentes, according to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman.

He'll come cheap. The A's designated Fuentes for assignment last week after receiving no interest on the trade market. The 36-year-old lefty reliever has a 6.84 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in 25 innings this season. He is still owed more than $3 million on his contract, including a $500,000 buyout on his $6.5 million club option for next year.

Athletics designated LHP Brian Fuentes for assignment.

Oakland had been shopping Fuentes but apparently found little interest. The 36-year-old lefty reliever has a 6.84 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in 25 innings this season.

Brian Fuentes is dealing with a previously undisclosed ankle issue.

It's not a major concern, but Fuentes was unavailable this week as a precautionary measure. The Royals are expected to use him in low-pressure situations initially, but he could return to a prominent setup role when fully healthy.

A's manager Bob Melvin said Saturday that he'll employ a closer-by-committee approach going forward.

Brian Fuentes, Ryan Cook and Grant Balfour will split the opportunities. Cook seems like the best guy to own in fantasy leagues because of his success this season, but all three are worth rostering in deeper formats.

Oakland manager Bob Melvin was noncommittal Friday on whether Brian Fuentes will remain the team's closer.

"I don't make decisions like that two minutes after the game," Melvin said. Fuentes has two blown saves and two losses in his last four games. Ryan Cook is the most likely candidate to replace him, though Grant Balfour could also warrant some consideration. Cook enters Saturday with a 0.69 ERA in 24 appearances.

Brian Fuentes blew a two-run lead by giving up a three-run homer to the Diamondbacks' Ryan Roberts in the bottom of the ninth on Friday.

Don't blame Fuentes for being a mediocre reliever; blame the A's for putting him in the closer's role where he can't be used for matchup purposes. Fuentes still has his uses in a major league pen, but it's stupid to put him in a position to face more right-handed hitters than lefties. The A's should be considering a change after this one. Ryan Cook might be the choice to take over in the ninth.

Brian Fuentes pitched a perfect ninth against the Rangers for his fifth save on Wednesday.

Fuentes blew the only previous save chance he had the last two weeks. Pretty much a league average reliever these days, he has about as little fantasy value as anyone currently sporting the closer label.

Brian Fuentes allowed a walk-off three-run homer to former teammate Josh Willingham to blow his second save in Oakland's 3-2 loss to the Twins Tuesday.

An ugly outing after Minnesota's offense had done next to nothing for three-plus hours prior to the bullpen doors opening for Fuentes. Entering a 2-0 game, Fuentes allowed a leadoff single to Jamey Carroll and a walk to Denard Span before Ben Revere appeared to bail Fuentes out with a botched bunt attempt. Fuentes induced a bouncer from Joe Mauer, but the A's weren't able to convert the double play. In the middle of the count, Willingham destroyed a flat fastball over the the middle of the plate for the second walk-off homer in Target Field history. Fuentes doesn't have a lot of job security, but it'll likely take another ugly outing for Bob Melvin to yank him in favor of ex-closer Grant Balfour or youngster Ryan Cook.

A's manager Bob Melvin named Brian Fuentes the team's new closer after Saturday's win over the Tigers.

Grant Balfour has struggled in recent weeks and Fuentes was able to pick up his second save of the season Saturday against Detroit. The veteran left-hander doesn't have the best raw stuff and has surrendered a run in each of his save chances this year, but he's certainly worth grabbing in fantasy leagues. Ryan Cook is now probably next in line.