Veteran left-hander Ted Lilly confirmed to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com that he will retire. This confirms a recent report in Venezuelan newspaper El Universal. "I am retiring," Lilly wrote in a text message. "I don't want to, but I think it is the realistic decision." The 37-year-old attempted to pitch in the Venezuelan Winter League after having the nerve endings on the right side of his neck cauterized by a spine specialist, but the discomfort hasn't subsided.