Despite triggering his vesting option last night with his 30th save and 50th game finished, Atlanta Braves’ closer Billy Wagner will retire after this season.

“I’m retiring,” the 38-year-old lefty said today, according to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I don’t know how to say it in a politically correct way, that anybody’s going to believe me.

His $6.5 million option automatically vests by finishing his 50th game, so he’s walking away from a lot of guaranteed money.

Despite putting up very impressive numbers – 1.68 ERA, 30 saves, a .170 opponents’ average, 77 strikeouts and 15 walks in 52 2/3 innings, he’s ready to hang it up to spend more time with his wife and four kids.

“Me and my family have made plans for retirement,” he said. “I don’t need it anymore. I’m tired of the expectations, tired of the criticism, tired of people who never played trying to tell me how to play.

“And I enjoy my family, unlike [some others]. So I want to be there for them. I want to get to see them play ball, and be a dad.”

However, there may be a stipulation for Wagner to change his mind. “[manager Bobby Cox] asked me a couple of times, ‘Are you sure?’ Wagner said, smiling. “I said, well if you don’t retire, I won’t retire.”

Cox will also retire after this season.