SAN FRANCISCO — Relief pitcher Tim Worrell retired Wednesday after a 14-year career that ended with the San Francisco Giants.

Worrell pitched for nine teams as a dependable, durable reliever and an occasional starter. But the 39-year-old right-hander spent his final season bedeviled by problems with his throwing shoulder and neck, and he decided to retire after experiencing several setbacks in rehabilitation.

“I guess when you know it’s the right move, it’s a little easier,” he said. “I think I’m at a point where I’ve come to grips with my career (being) over. I feel like I can’t get myself back to that level of competition.”

Worrell was 48-59 with 71 saves and a 3.97 ERA over 678 career appearances. He spent his final season in San Francisco, beginning the year as the Giants’ closer but pitching in his last game on June 8.

He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder in late August and expected to be ready for spring training. Instead, he spent the last two months failing to shake the persistent neck problems that can only be corrected by surgery.

Worrell decided the extra pain and aggravation wasn’t worth another season in a lengthy career, so he retired with one season left on a two-year, $4 million contract with San Francisco.

He was the setup man for closer Robb Nen on the Giants’ 2002 NL championship team, and he earned 38 saves for San Francisco in 2003. After signing with Philadelphia in 2004, Worrell left the Phillies for five weeks in 2005 to deal with “personal psychological issues,” but pitched exceptionally well after Philadelphia traded him to Arizona.

Though he intends to spend more time with his wife and four sons in their Phoenix home, Worrell also intends to explore roles with major league teams as a counselor or coach in future seasons.

“There will be an open door as far as what he may want to do for us in the future at some form in some level,” Giants general manager Brian Sabean said. “The greatest compliment is that he was always available, always willing to do anything for the club on most days, which is a rarity for a reliever.