"All winter long, we've been asked why closer Billy Wagner was still on the Braves' 40-man roster, after saying he retired following the 2010 season and not indicating any other intentions since.

All winter long, we've been told by team officials and Wagner's agent that the left-hander is retired, period. The Braves have no plans to have him back, even though his $6.5 million option vested with 50 games finished in 2010. Wagner said from early last season that he would leave that on the table if it vested, that he was retired and that was that.

He never wavered in that throughout the season, to the point where teammates eventually stopped pleading with him to return, because they knew he was serious about shutting it down, calling it a career and going home to his wife and four children on their Virginia farm after the 2010 season and postseason. There is a $250,000 buyout of that option, but the Braves don't pay it if he retires (or even if he doesn't formally retire, but opts simply not to show up for spring training).

His agent has told Braves general manager Frank Wren a couple of times this winter that Wagner's retirement paperwork would be filed and his retirement official. It's still not official, but could be any day. There has been no indication from anyone involved that Wagner has reconsidered and is secretly getting ready to pitch again."