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Rick Helling is retiring from baseball after pitching in the major leagues for 12 years, highlighted by a 20-win season.

'I've said all along that I would retire if I couldn't do it anymore or if I couldn't be away from my family anymore,' Helling said Monday. 'I couldn't handle being away from my family.'

Helling, a 36-year-old right-hander, was 93-81 with a 4.68 ERA for Milwaukee, Florida, Texas, Arizona and Baltimore. His best season was 1998, when he went 20-7 for the Rangers.

He spent his final two seasons as a reliever with the Brewers, going 0-2 with a 4.11 ERA in 35 innings last year. He was on the disabled list from April 16 to June 20 with a sprained right elbow, then didn't pitch after Sept. 9 because of torn cartilage in his left knee.

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