Posada to make retirement official

Jorge Posada made five All-Star teams in his 17 seasons with the Yankees.

AP

NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Yankees say Jorge Posada is going to announce his retirement Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.

The 40-year-old five-time All-Star catcher will end his 17-year big league career with the team that drafted him rather than pursue another team. Posada became a free agent after a trying season in New York, the final year of a four-year, $52 million contract.

The Yankees announced Posada's decision in a statement Monday. Sports radio station WFAN first reported his plans two weeks ago.

The clubhouse leader helped the Yankees win five World Series titles. For his career, Posada hit .273 with 275 home runs and 1,065 RBIs. But he lost his catching job this year and his playing time diminished.

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