Jed Lowrie announces retirement, reflects on 7 years with A’s

Jed Lowrie’s 14-year major-league career started with a strong rookie season for the Boston Red Sox, when the infielder stood out in the Division Series despite playing with a broken wrist. He also spent three stints with the Oakland Athletics and was part of three playoff teams.

“We always outperformed what our payroll was and exceeded expectations, and I was always drawn to that, and that’s why I always ended up going back,” Lowrie said of the A’s.

He will not be lured back for another season. That stage of Lowrie’s baseball life is over, he told The Chronicle. His retirement is official as of Thursday morning.

“The fact that I wound up playing for the A’s for seven years is amazing,” Lowrie said. “The organization always allowed me the freedom to be myself, and playing for Bob Melvin, he always did such a good job of knowing when to say the right things and when not to say anything.”

Former Oakland manager Melvin called Lowrie “one of my all-time favorites,” and added, “Jed was definitely an Oakland A – his skill set profiled what the A’s were looking for in a player: on base, versatility, switch-hitter. Fantastic player.”