Jorge Posada apparently does not feel "welcomed" by the Yankees, as he revealed on "The Show" podcast with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Asked by Sherman if he would have interest in rejoining the organization to help restore a championship mentality to a team that is enduring a 17-year title drought, the four-time World Series champion made it clear that he doesn't feel like the only team he knew as a pro would welcome him back with open arms.
"I could, but I don't think they want me there, to tell you the truth," Posada said. "I don't feel welcome when I go there, you know? Even in spring training...I don't know, I don't feel welcome. I don't feel like they want me there, so I don't go."
Posada mentioned his final season in pinstripes when discussing his feeling of being iced out by the Yanks, a year in where his diminished skills led the Yankees to play him more at DH instead of catcher, leading to spats with management, including former teammate Joe Girardi, who was manager at the time. The five-time All-Star sounded off on that final season in his book, "My Journey Home," which was published shortly after his retirement. Clearly, it is still not something he has moved on from.
Posada is far from the only former Yankee great who is not afraid to call out or criticize the organization. Derek Jeter still comes around to Yankee Stadium, but has not been afraid to give his thoughts on the team's current brand of baseball when commentating for FOX Sports. Like Posada, Jeter had his own issues with team leadership late in his career, particularly with Brian Cashman, who urged him to look elsewhere for a contract better than the one he was offering after the 2010 season. The standoff led to brief concern that Jeter, one of the most beloved Yankees of all time, could finish his career with another team. Alex Rodriguez, Jeter's former teammate and current counterpart on FOX, has never shied away from his own thoughts on why the Yankees continue to chase their first title since 2009, when Jeter and Rodriguez were pillars of the team's success.
Anthony Rizzo was a member of the last Yankee team to reach a World Series in 2024, and he recently sounded off on the team's "World Series or bust" mantra, which he believes is no longer relevant. CC Sabathia, who by all accounts has a great relationship with the organization, has also voiced his belief that the "Yankee standard" has changed. It has been open season on the Yankees in recent years as their World Series drought continues, and former players are getting in on the criticism.
Another former Yankee great seems to have a gripe with the organization.
Another former Yankee great seems to have a gripe with the organization.
