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Sweeny Says: Yankees' Jorge Posada Hits The Big 4-0

By Sweeny Murti
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Jorge Posada turns 40 years old today.  It's not his best season -- he's had some highs and he's had some lows. But it's almost certainly his last season as a Yankee.

Posada may want to keep playing after this year and that's his prerogative. But he shouldn't expect that it's going to be for the Yankees.  At various points over the last six months they have taken away his catching duties, his at-bats vs. lefties, and even his at-bats altogether.

Posada came back with a vengeance last Saturday with his 6 RBI game on national TV.  It was an excellent bookend moment to the national TV embarrassment in May when he pulled himself from the lineup.  That grand slam against Tampa Bay could have provided the last great moment we see from Posada in Yankee pinstripes, though he might still have some September or October magic in him.

As a man without a position—or more accurately a position (DH) that the Yankees can use more efficiently next season—Posada has little chance of coming back in this uniform next year.  He is playing out the final year of a 4-year, $52 million deal, making $13 million this season.

Keep in mind that Bernie Williams hit .281/.332/.436 with 41 extra-base hits in his final year, and the Yankees didn't even blink when they let him go.  This year, Posada is hitting .239/.319/.388 with 23 extra-base hits.  He's had some good streaks and big hits, but the end is near—and deep down Posada knows it too.

With a handful of World Series rings and standing in the Yankees Top 20 in seven offensive categories, he is one of the franchise's all-time best and a borderline Hall of Famer.  But one thing Jorge Posada is almost certainly not, is a Yankee in 2012.  It's not a crime, its just reality.

But it's kind of sad for those who have watched him bleed for this team the last 15 years.

Happy Birthday, Jorge.

Sweeny Murti
Yankees@wfan.com
www.twitter.com/YankeesWFAN

Do you think Posada should hang it up after this season and retire a Yankee? Be heard in the comments below...

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