Erik Swanson was never the loudest name in any blockbuster, but he always seemed to be standing right next to the headline. For Seattle Mariners fans, his career is tied to one of the more memorable “win-now” swings of the last decade — the trade that brought Teoscar Hernández to Seattle and shipped Swanson to Toronto as the key bullpen piece going the other way.
On Nov. 20, the right-hander stepped out of that supporting-cast role one last time, announcing on Instagram that he’s retiring from professional baseball and closing the book on a sneaky eventful seven-year run in the majors.