Game 5 loss was likely Posada’s Yankees farewell

Published on October 7th, 2011

Longtime New York Yankees catcher/DH Jorge Posada might have worn the pinstripes for the last time.

Following Thursday’s Game 5 loss to the Detroit Tigers in the ALDS, Posada, a pending free agent, got emotional when asked whether his Yankees career might be over.

“I can’t answer that,” he told reporters, according to the New York Daily News. “I gave it all on the field.”Posada, 40, then put his hand in front of his face and said, “I’m sorry,” before going back toward the shower area.Posada, a 24th-round pick by the Yankees in 1990, made his major league debut during the 1995 season. By 1998, he was the team’s starting catcher.

He won five World Series titles with the team and was a part of the franchise’s “Core Four” with shortstop Derek Jeter, closer Mariano Rivera and lefthander Andy Pettitte. During his 17 major league seasons, he was a five-time All-Star and hit .273 with 275 homers and 1,065 RBIs.

With a surplus of young catchers, the Yankees moved Posada to a full-time DH role this spring training, creating tension between him and the organization. Posada had a run-in with manager Joe Girardi in midseason during which he reportedly asked out of the lineup and even threatened to leave the team because of his dissatisfaction with his spot in the batting order.

The Posada-Girardi relationship ultimately was patched, but Posada had arguably the worst offensive season of his career (.235 average, .315 on-base percentage) in 2011. He often was benched against lefthanders, though his bat showed life in September and during the ALDS (6-for-14).

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