New York Yankees Sign Jorge Posada
All-Star Catcher Receives Four-Year, $52 million Contract
The Yankees signed their five-time All Star catcher Jorge Posada to a deal that will pay him more than $13 million per season for the next four years.
The New York Yankees and Jorge Posada agreed Monday night to a $52.4 million, four-year contract that keeps the catcher off the free-agent market.
A five-time All-Star, Posada said on Sunday afternoon that he was "really close" to a deal with the Yankees. A source who was involved in the talks confirmed the contract, but would only speak anonymously because the Yankees haven't yet announced the deal. According to the source, Posada must pass a physical before the contract is finalized.
Posada Becomes Highest Paid Catcher in History
The $13.1 million average salary is the highest yearly pay ever for a catcher, just slightly higher than $13 million Mike Piazza averaged under his contract with the New York Mets from 1999-05.
The Yankees have been trying to sign Posada since the end of the season, and for good reason. The catcher hit a team-high .338 this year with 20 homers and 90 RBIs. He set career highs for average, slugging percentage (.543) and on-base percentage (.426). Finally, since the turn of the new millenium, Posada has hit more home runs and collected more RBI than any other catcher in baseball.
Posada Provides Continuity to a Team in Flux
More important than his offensive prowess, however, is the fact that Posada will provide continuity to a team in flux and a pitching staff that is full of promising young talent.
Since the season ended last month, the Yankees longtime manager Joe Torre rejected a one year contract offer from the Yankees and signed a three year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The team also lost its MVP third baseman, who opted out of the final three years of his massive contract to seek an even richer deal on the free agent market. It also appears that Andy Pettitte, who has won more games for the team than any other pitcher of the last dozen years, may be headed for retirement.
By signing Posada, however, the Yankees increase the odds of locking up closer Mariano Rivera, who is also a free agent. Posada also provides an important link between the players and their new manager, Joe Girardi. Girardi mentored Posada in his early catching days and the two have remained close friends over the years. Posada became the first veteran to publicly express support for Girardi when he told reporters last week, "I love Joe. He's been like a big brother to me since '96, so I'm really hopefully looking forward to working with him."
Finally, because he is a veteran catcher whose career highlights have included catching for wide-eyed rookies, grizzled veterans and future Hall of Famers, Posada is essential to the development of the Yankees trio of young pitching stars Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy.
Jorge Posada's Career Statistics
All Star Teams: 5 (2000-2003, 2007)
Silver Slugger Awards: 5 (2000-2003, 2007)
World Series Rings: 4 (1996, 1998-2000)
Batting Average: .277 (career high of .338 in 2007)
Home Runs: 212 (career high of 31 in 2003)
RBI: 861 (career high of 101 RBI in 2003)
Posada also caught for the following pitchers in his 12-year career: Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina, David Wells, David Cone, Dwight Gooden, Kevin Brown, John Wetteland, Kenny Rogers, Jimmy Key, and John Franco.
