Q&A: Estes ‘not retired,’ still wants to play in bigs

Estes didn’t retire...he was geezernapped by the diabolical Colletti Gang!

If you’re not retired, how did it get reported that you were?

A: “They had to put me on some sort of list and they chose the retirement list. It was, obviously, my decision not to pitch in Triple-A anymore but I’m not retired, not suspended, not hurt.”

Even after the season started, you didn’t think it might get to this point?

A: “The relationship I had with the (Dodgers) general manager, Ned Colletti, was one that I thought I could, with my history with him from the Giants, that if I wasn’t called up by a certain point and if I felt I was throwing well I could call him and get my release. Basically, ‘Give me an opportunity to go pitch somewhere else in the big leagues.’ When I attempted to get my release, it was denied. He was not going to let me walk; he wanted something in return for me. If I signed somewhere else and pitched well for another team, it might make him look bad. He’s got people he’s got to answer to. But I kind of felt that the right thing to do, at this point in my career—I’m 36 years old and have done everything the Dodgers have asked me to do from spring training on—wasn’t to hold me hostage in a situation like this. With that said, he gave us the opportunity to go out and talk to other teams and see if there’s a trade that can be worked out. That’s where we’re at right now. ... This is the first time I’ve been in this situation and you learn a lot of things about people. You kind of live and learn. We screwed up by not getting the out in our contract. I didn’t realize how important that was going to be. And you can’t put a whole lot of stock in personal relationships. It is a big business, but you just hope that sometimes general managers or coaches or managers or owners, that they look at the humane side of things. But it doesn’t seem to work that way very often anymore. Is there a chance if I did get released that there wouldn’t be another club out there that had interest in me? Yeah, that’s a possibility. But I’ve seen a lot of teams looking for pitching, and I can’t imagine I wouldn’t get a better opportunity with another club.”

So what is the next step for you?

A: “All of the other 29 teams have received an e-mail as to my situation, which is I’m not pitching in Triple-A anymore. I’ve thrown my last pitch in Triple-A. If they have a need for me, then they need to speak with Ned Colletti and seek a trade. Ned said he wouldn’t ask for anything substantial. ... Being in this position does not allow me the best opportunity to get another job this year, just because teams aren’t going to be as willing to trade as they would be if I was just free on the market right now. I’m kind of in handcuffs right now, at the mercy of Ned Colletti and the Dodgers.”