Brault, who spent last season playing in the independent Atlantic League converting to a position player, has elected to step away after a seven-year career pitching in the big leagues. The 31-year-old lefty made the announcement on Instagram.

Brault will be converting full-time to a position player and hopes to return to the majors as an outfielder in the future. The 31-year-old left-hander was a two-way player in college and one of the better hitting pitchers in the National League. He was limited to just nine relief appearances last year for the Cubs due to injury.

Brault was limited to nine major league appearances by shoulder woes last season. The former Pirate could be of use in middle relief if healthy, but after two mostly lost seasons, he shouldn't get any MLB offers this winter.

Brault went out on a rehab assignment earlier this month but his lat hasn't responded as hoped. The southpaw will head back to the Cubs' spring training complex to rehab and won't return this season.