Gil Meche has announced his retirement from the game of baseball.

A major surprise, given that his salary this season would have been a whopping $12 million. The 32-year-old right-hander did not give an exact reason for his sudden retirement, but it might have something to do with his chronic shoulder problems. He made only nine starts last season and tallied only 61 2/3 innings of work while posting an ugly 5.67 ERA and 1.67 WHIP.

Royals activated RHP Gil Meche from the 60-day disabled list.

Meche hasn't appeared in a major league game since May 25 due to lingering shoulder problems. He has scaled back his expectations for September and will return in middle relief. Meche gave up one run over 4 2/3 innings in three appearances out of the bullpen with Triple-A Omaha. The Royals still have him under contract for $12 million next season.

Gil Meche (shoulder) is expected to join the Royals' bullpen this week.

Meche has allowed one run and two hits in 4 2/3 innings at Triple-A Omaha since beginning a minor league rehab assignment last week. He will pitch in a middle relief role for the remainder of the season.

Gil Meche (shoulder) is expected to begin a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.

Meche tossed a final successful simulated game on Wednesday afternoon. "Gil threw very well and had very live stuff," Royals manager Ned Yost said afterward. The righty is aiming for an early September return.

Royals manager Ned Yost was impressed from what he saw from Gil Meche (shoulder) in his latest throwing session Wednesday.

"Meche threw today and I thought he looked good last time but he looked twice as good this time," Yost said. "He had a real hard, tight breaking ball, nice cutter, good fastball. Command was off a little bit but he threw really well so he's getting closer." Meche, who hasn't pitched since late-May, decided to put off shoulder surgery in hopes of returning as a reliever later this season.

Gil Meche (shoulder) threw a successful simulated game on Monday.

It's a big step. "He probably threw 30 pitches," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "It was a sim-type game where the hitters didn't know what was coming, and he threw the ball very well." Meche, 31, is hoping to return to the club as a reliever near the end of August or in early September.

Gil Meche (shoulder) threw a successful bullpen session Friday.

"I have better arm speed, the ball is jumping out of my hand and I'm throwing all my pitches," Meche said. "I've just got to keep going and I'll get in there soon." He's hoping to return as a reliever in September.

Gil Meche won't have shoulder surgery after all and will instead start a rehab program that he hopes will have him ready to pitch in the bullpen in September.

Doctors have told Meche that if he did have surgery, he would miss the entire 2011 season and it's possible it could be career-threatening. "For me, starting pitching is not an option for me," Meche said. "I'm going to pitch in the bullpen and see if my shoulder can handle it. As far as the endurance and stress, my shoulder can't do it." The odds of this working are probably long, but we're rooting for Meche to pull it off.

A source tells Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse that Gil Meche will need season-ending shoulder surgery.

Meche tossed four scoreless inning in his first minor league rehab start with for Double-A Northwest Arkansas last week, but was torched for seven runs over four innings for Triple-A Omaha on Monday night. The 31-year-old right-hander hasn't pitched in the majors since May 25 due to right shoulder bursitis.

Gil Meche (shoulder) was tagged for seven runs over four innings in his second minor league rehab start with Triple-A Omaha on Monday.

Meche allowed eight hits -- including four doubles -- while walking two and striking out just one, but the Royals are more focused on his health. "You're looking at the way that he feels," said Royals manager Ned Yost. "The numbers are kind of secondary. You go on how he feels and the way that his elbow reacts and the way that his shoulder reacts and go from there." It's safe to say he'll need at least a couple more rehab starts before being activated from the DL.

Gil Meche (shoulder) is scheduled to make a second minor league rehab start Monday at Triple-A Omaha.

Meche will throw between 70-80 pitches and could rejoin the Royals soon after if he looks sharp. He tossed four scoreless innings in his first rehab start last week at Double-A Northwest Arkansas. The 31-year-old right-hander has been out of commission since May 29 due to right shoulder bursitis.

Gil Meche (shoulder) tossed four scoreless innings in his first minor league rehab start with Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Wednesday.

Meche allowed two hits while striking out three and walking three. He threw 42 out of 69 pitches for strikes, using only his fastball and changeup. The results were fine, but it was no surprise to see that his control was a little off given that it was his first game action in almost two months. He'll likely need a few more rehab starts before returning from the DL sometime next month.

Gil Meche (shoulder) could have a rehab start as early as Wednesday.

Meche will play catch, long-toss and throw a side session today. If that goes well, he'll probably join Double-A Northwest Arkansas for a rehab start Wednesday. Since he's missed so much time, the right-hander will need multiple rehab starts before rejoining the Royals. He has also yet to throw his curveball because it causes him pain. We almost surely won't see Meche until sometime in August.

Gil Meche (shoulder) threw 60 pitches in a four-inning simulated game Friday.

"It didn't feel strong like it did the other day [in Chicago]," said Meche, who was decked out in his full uniform despite the 93 degree heat at Kauffman Stadium. "It got weak and my legs got weak. When your legs get weak, you're done." Royals manager Ned Yost said that Meche looked "pretty good," but that he would likely need two more throwing sessions before going out on a minor league rehab assignment.

Royals transferred RHP Gil Meche from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.

Meche originally hit the DL back on May 29, so he can still return in late July. He has a simulated game under his belt and is hoping to begin a minor league rehab assignment in about a week. The right-hander had a 0-4 record, a 6.66 ERA and a 1.85 WHIP in nine starts before the injury.

Gil Meche (shoulder) threw three simulated innings this weekend.

"Everybody is really pleased by what they see," Meche said, "and I feel great. My shoulder is fine, but I'm still waiting to see my pinpoint location. If I can pitch pain-free, I can make it happen." He hasn't pitched in a live game since May 25, so a lengthy rehab assignment might be required.

Gil Meche (shoulder) threw three sets of 20 pitches in the bullpen Monday.

Royals interim manager Ned Yost called the session "electric." "I threw mostly fastball, changeup, and in my last probably 10, I threw curveballs -- and they were way better than I thought they would be. Better than during the year and starts that I've had," said Meche. "So it's definitely strong. Now it's just maintaining it." Meche was scheduled to play catch on Tuesday and Wednesday before facing live hitters on Friday. He hopes to return after the All-Star break.

Gil Meche, who is currently rehabbing a shoulder injury, has recently been throwing from a lower arm angle.

"The trainers thought it might be better in the long run, since I can't get away from the feeling I've been having in the front of my shoulder," said Meche. Royals pitching coach Bob McClure doesn't think the change will be permanent, saying that they are only trying to "keep his arm in shape." The 31-year-old right-hander has been on the disabled list since May 26 due to shoulder bursitis. There's no clear timetable for his return.

Gil Meche (shoulder) is aiming to return to the Royals' starting rotation soon after the All-Star break.

Meche just started throwing off a mound on Thursday, so it's no sure thing that his goal will be met. "He's definitely making progress," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "We said you start making progress when you get his schedule worked out and we got the schedule worked up today. ... It'll probably be sometime after the All-Star break." We shall see.

Gil Meche tested his shoulder by playing catch on Tuesday, but is unlikely to return for at least another two weeks.

"He still feels it a little bit in the front of his shoulder," said Royals manager Ned Yost, "but nothing like it was. So we're making progress...but he hasn't thrown on the side or anything." Meche has been on the disabled list since May 29 due to right shoulder bursitis.