Author Topic: (MLB) Posada reportedly to announce his retirement (Read 209 times)

MistaNova · « **on:** January 07, 2012, 11:30:16 PM »

NEW YORK -- Jorge Posada, who won five World Series rings with the Yankees and promises to be an interesting case for baseball's Hall of Fame, intends to announce his retirement.

WFAN radio in New York was the first to report that the 40-year-old Posada had reached a decision, citing an anonymous source who said that an announcement will be made within the next two weeks.

A fiery presence in the Yankees' clubhouse during a 17-year career, the switch-hitting Posada caught 1,574 games for New York. Only Bill Dickey (1,708) and Yogi Berra (1,695) spent more time behind the plate wearing pinstripes.

Posada's final season with the Yankees was tumultuous. Told before Spring Training that the club no longer considered him a viable option behind the plate, Posada was asked to assume the role of a full-time designated hitter for the first time in his career.

It was apparent that the Yankees did not intend to continue their relationship with Posada, who completed a four-year, $52.4 million contract at the end of the season. Posada said in November that he could not see any way that he'd play for the Yankees in 2012.

As recently as two months ago, Posada said that he was entertaining the idea of continuing to play in a different uniform. Posada started his offseason workouts on Nov. 1, as he usually does, and told reporters that a half-dozen clubs had called his agents to check on his situation.

Instead, Posada will write the final chapter of his career in flowing, navy blue Yankees script. A converted infielder who switched to catching in the Minor Leagues, Posada will retire with a career .273 average. He ranks seventh on the franchise's all-time list with 379 doubles and 936 walks, eighth with 275 home runs and 11th with 1,065 RBIs.

The decision confirms that the Yankees' "Core Four" is now down to a dynamic duo. Only Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera remain from the group that collected five World Series rings, with Andy Pettitte having announced his retirement before the 2011 season.

Read the rst here: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120107&content_id=26284576&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

Thanks for the memories Jorge...