Eric Serge Gagne was born on 7 January 1976, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and is a retired professional baseball player, best known as a pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB), playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers and winning the Cy Young Award in 2003. All of his efforts have helped put his net worth to where it is today.
How rich is Eric Gagne? As of mid-2017, sources estimate a net worth that is at $20 million, mostly earned through a successful career in professional baseball. He also played with the Texas Rangers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Boston Red Sox. As he continues his endeavors, it is expected that his wealth will also continue to increase.
Eric Gagne Net Worth $20 million
At a young age, Eric started playing ice hockey and baseball, while attending Plyvalente Edouard-Montpetit High School. He became a star with Canada’s Junior World Championship baseball team, and was also part of a Little League team coached by his father. After matriculating, he attended Seminole Junior College and would become the star pitcher for the school’s team. He was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 1994 MLB draft, but decided to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers the following year as an amateur free agent.
Gagne started playing in the minor leagues, but had to miss the 1997 season due to Tommy John surgery – repairing ligament damage in his pitching arm elbow. He eventually made his way to the major leagues, and his first game was against the Florida Marlins, but he only appeared in a few games during his first three seasons. In 2002 he was converted to a relief pitcher, and started performing well. He became a closer in 2003 and became the fastest pitcher to get the 100 save plateau as well as the first pitcher to record 50 saves in more than one season. He equaled the National League record, and would then create new records in the next few years. Thanks to his outstanding performance he won the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year as well as the Cy Young Award in 2003, making him the first relief pitcher in 11 years to win it, despite a losing season. His net worth increased significantly thanks to his performance, but in 2005, he had to battle through several injuries. His playing time was limited and he had to miss most of the season.
Due to injuries, the Dodgers declined to extend Eric’s contract, and it made him a free agent. He signed a one year deal with the Texas Rangers worth $6 million, and it continued to help his net worth increase. During his return, he played well but the elbow injury still held him back, so in 2007, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox, but struggled with his new role there. He made his only World Series appearance, winning with the Red Sox in 2007. He then signed a one year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers after the season, but delivered one of his worst full seasons in 2008, and became a free agent. In 2009, he signed with the Quebec Capitales of the Can-Am League. The following year, he attempted a comeback with the Los Angeles Dodgers but because he couldn’t find an opportunity, he announced his retirement.
Gagne then coached for the French national baseball team in 2013 before returning to the Can-Am League, playing for the Trois-Rivieres Aigles and the Ottowa Champions. He also joined the pitching staff of Team Canada for the 2017 World Baseball Classic. He thought about returning in the 2017 season, but after trying out with the Dodgers, he signed with the Long Island Ducks of Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He retired again sometime mid-year.
For his personal life, it is known that Eric married Valerie in 2002 but they eventually divorced; they have four children.
