3:34pm: The Rays' interest in Posada isn't strong, says Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times. According to Topkin, Posada figures to be, at best, among the club's fallback options if other moves don't go as planned.
11:38am: Recently, we learned that Jorge Posada would like to continue playing in 2012 if he can find the right situation. There appears to be interest in the veteran as the Rays, Orioles, and Phillies have inquired on Posada, the catcher's father told Javier Maymi of ESPNDeportes.com (Spanish link).
Sources told Maymi that the Rays are interested in exploring the possibility of signing Posada as a reserve first baseman, designated hitter, and backup to Jose Molina. The Rays already have Jose Lobaton and Robinson Chirinos to support Molina and even though both catchers suffered injuries over the winter, they are expected to be fine heading into Spring Training.
The Phillies would also be a curious fit for Posada with Jim Thome already providing a power bat against right-handed pitching. As for the Orioles, they reportedly didn't have much interest in Posada a month ago as they were seeking someone who could catch every day if necessary.
Encarnacion's Parrot
It’s kinda weird hearing about a team looking for a backup catcher for a backup catcher (Molina).
grownice
If that doesn’t spell retirement , nothing will.
mikhelb
Well, José Molina was once the bench of the bench of the catcher with the NYY a few years ago, and he is still going, same for Barajas with a variety of teams.
Ian_Smell
Wow, your comment just reminded me that the Pirates signed Barajas. I had completely forgotten.
User 4245925809
Funny stuff there. Next they will be looking at Varitek.. Thereby going for a trifecta of reserve catchers, 2 of which are non suited to ever be behind the dish again.
mikhelb
Yeah… The Yankees have had three catchers for a few years in a row now, and they’re not the only team.
Pawapuro
Catchception?
(It’s lame, I know…)
Mo_GOAT
Posada not being in pinstripes just isn’t right.
Guest 5600
His fault for not retiring… because him continuing to play there just isn’t right.
Mo_GOAT
Your right, he should have retired, he would’ve had a guaranteed spot in the yankees organization if he wanted it.
MB923
He still can retire.
Chris Niemann
The Phillies? I could have seen them having interest before they signed Thome but now? No way he’s a fit.
harrigang
Posada can give the Rays the inside on Yankee pitching, specifically Sabathia!
Russell Stephens
didn’t molina use to backup posada?
Lunchbox45
circle of life
diesel2410
An inside source told me that Posada would only accept a contract with the Marlins or he’s retiring
YanksFanSince78
I was hoping he would retire but I can’t find it in myself to be at a player who just wants to play for the sake of playing. Good luck Jorge. Don’t embarrass yourself though.
rikersbeard
Jays send JPA/D’arnaud, Alvarez, Syndergaard, and Cooper
Rays send D. Price to the Jays.
Would be awesome.
Fred_G_Sanford
that’s awful! i just crapped my adult diaper after reading that garbage.
cyberboo
Everyone is celebrating Christmas and you are putting up things for April Fool’s Day. You have the wrong day in mind. lol.
Silence
Why would you trade D’arnaud? He’s a future star, I still kick the Phillies for getting rid of him.
Lunchbox45
lol yah cuz thats the shocking aspect of the trade.
Silence
Why would you trade D’arnaud? He’s a future star, I still kick the Phillies for getting rid of him.
pitnick
Dad’s trying to drum up interest. None of these make much sense.
dudemanbro
so which team is most likely to tolerate posada throwing his usual hissy fits?
User 4245925809
He played for them the last decade or so and they don’t seem to need a backup catcher who cannot throw, plus struggled mightily at the plate last year.
This story has the smell of something put out there to invent interest in someone nobody wants by Posada himself.
YanksFanSince78
Am I the only one? Do you not recognize the difference between Posada, a lifetime Yankee being upset because he lost his job vs him now having to search for a part time gig elsewhere? POSADA WILL GO INTO HIS NEXT JOB KNOWING HE ISN’T A STARTER. I see absolutely no reason why he would sign on to a team knowing he won’t be the starter and still have a hissy fit. I’m sure that will be spelled out to him clearly by whoever offers him a contract.
YanksFanSince78
Am I the only one? Do you not recognize the difference between Posada, a lifetime Yankee being upset because he lost his job vs him now having to search for a part time gig elsewhere? POSADA WILL GO INTO HIS NEXT JOB KNOWING HE ISN’T A STARTER. I see absolutely no reason why he would sign on to a team knowing he won’t be the starter and still have a hissy fit. I’m sure that will be spelled out to him clearly by whoever offers him a contract.
jondogg2010
OMG retire. You have rings, Millions, and more importantly the chance to retire with ONE team which never happens. Same with Varitek and Wakefield Just F’n retire already.
Thomas Cassidy
Wakefield has played with the Pirates.
grownice
He’s referring to Major League teams.
Thomas Cassidy
And Wakefield played for the Major League Pirates.
dudemanbro
does not compute
Abraham Berrio
He’s still referring to Major league teams.
Thomas Cassidy
And he’s still wrong.
Dynasty22
I think you missed the joke…
MetsMagic
The Pirates won the division with Wakefield. Remember, that was the team that had Bonds, Drabek, Van Slyke, among others.
101andcounting
True. He went 8-1 with a 2.15 ERA for the ’92 Pirates, who went 96-66 and finished first in the NL East.
User 4245925809
Got a feeling some here don’t recall when Wake was a spry lad and the Bucs were actually a good team..
Notice that quite a lot also ’round here…
OrangeCards
Are ya saying Red Sox nation is a new fad?
OrangeCards
Are ya saying Red Sox nation is a new fad?
User 4245925809
Well… Was mostly recalling many posts when teams were actually good and some people here insist the stink.. KC nay sayers come to mind and remember when they used to win the AL central just about every year..
As for Red Sox nation? Don’t get me started on that… They never bothered to come around (for the most part) prior to ’04 and I can remember prior to ’67 nobody in their right mind even claimed to be a Sox fan period…
mikhelb
And Varitek was developed by the Mariners…
chaifetz10
Wakefield played his first two seasons with the Pirates, but great point with Varitek.
mikhelb
And Varitek was a product of the Mariners…
LordD99 2
Posada can still hit from the leftside. If he wants to play and someone will pay him, then play on. He has the rest of his life to be retired. His legacy will always be as a Yankee, and his post playing career will be tied to the Yankees, even if he wears another uniform or two before he calls it quits. Even Yogi Berra wore a Mets uniform at the end.
Thomas Cassidy
Posada won’t sign with anyone. He will retire a Yankee. That’s better than playing one more year with another team. Especially the last place Orioles. Posada is too competitive, he would never sign with a team who doesn’t have a chance to win.
bayareabeast
you missed the phillies and rays who are contenders. i agree however that he should retire as a yankee
Thomas Cassidy
They are. But the Phillies with Thome and Posada on the bench? If they were an AL team, maybe. But I don’t see that happening. The Rays don’t make all that much sense either.
mikhelb
Well, the Phillies are an offense starved team, and Posada can give them a hell of a bat coming off the bench as a leftie. Way better (for the price) than most of what’s available not named Vladimir (who will no accept a bench role right now).
Silence
He would fit great on the Phillies.. just would make more sense if Thome wasn’t already a member.
baseball52
I feel like the Cubs are a great fit. Play 1B and backup Soto.
Lefty
The Sesame Street News Flash
This just in….. Jorge Posada is “Washed Up”… again this just in Jorge Posada is “Washed Up”…. We are sending out Kermit the Frog, our man in the street to gather more information on this “Breaking News”…..
Jorge Posada should be just happy that he’s even in the News on this Christmas Eve with that “Surly” attitude of his!
mgboojr
The ‘interest’ in Posoda sounds more like his agent trying to create interest so somebody will bite on the idea. His knowledge would be valuable. His service as a catcher?
missyae
My “inside source”, me, says he is washed up
John Wright
Of course Jorge should have retired a Yankee but either the Rays or Marlins would be ideal and close to home. He’ll always be loved by Yankee fans!
John Wright
Were you looking in the mirror by any chance?
YanksFanSince78
Is anyone not reading the part about him being back up/emergency catcher, reserve 1b and DH? I mean no team is signing him to C full time. If anything, maybe he might see 20-25 games there. He’s not a good C but he can be serviceable as a spot starter 1 every 10 days. He’s NOT a good defensive player ANYWHERE but he can play 1b or C in an emergency and still be a valuable bat as a lefty vs righty platoon player.
Clearly there was no room for him with Martin, Cervelli and Montero and the uneasy feeling of him not embracing his role as a bench player for the Yanks was an issue. He would absolutely understand his role with any other of the 29 teams.
User 4245925809
I think it is more the idea that people such as Dobbs are still there who can play more positions and more mobile YFS,
Not even getting into the defensive thing here, but teams can find people beside Posada to fill in at 1B and a 3rd string catcher that teams don’t even carry any longer.
An American league team in almost every situation does not even carry a player to come off of the bench who would fit this type of “bill” so to say.. Giambi like as a PH and emergency 1B.
If Posada manages to find a team, it will probably be a NL team as a PH, or Tampa as was brought up above in that post with his home town roots if they think can actually use him. I doubt they will with Damon still there however.
Just my 2c.
YanksFanSince78
You’re certainly entitled to your opinion but I disagree politely. Posada can still hit righties evident by his 14 hrs, .350 OBP and .824 OPS last year. Factor in a guy you can pencil in as a C and a 1b gives a manager a lot of options.
User 4245925809
Ah yeah. it’s mostly about opinions on here anyway is it not? 🙂
Merry Christmas old friend don’t reply to another of your posts over the next few hours….
Rabbitov
Except that he’s a year older. At 40 years old you can’t rely on him anymore at any position.
I am not taking anything away from Posada’s career, which has been impressive, but its time for him to hang up his catcher mask and spend some time in the Bahamas.
(Oh yea and happy holidays bud)
YanksFanSince78
You’re certainly entitled to your opinion but I disagree politely. Posada can still hit righties evident by his 14 hrs, .350 OBP and .824 OPS last year. Factor in a guy you can pencil in as a C and a 1b gives a manager a lot of options.