Posada Ending His Baseball Career?

Jorge Posada may just have caught his last baseball at Yankee Stadium

The 40-year-old professional baseball star is reportedly planning to retire after 17 seasons with the New York Yankees rather than pursue opportunities with other teams.

Jorge Posada

A person familiar with Posada’s decision told The Associated Press on Saturday that the five-time All-Star catcher will announce his retirement this month. The free agent instructed his sports agents not to make calls on his behalf this offseason, according to a source.

Posada won five World Series titles with the team that picked him up in the 24th round of the 1990 draft. He became a free agent after a trying season in New York, the final year of a four-year, $52 million contract.

Posada’s retirement leaves shortstop Derek Jeter and closer Mariano Rivera as the two remaining players from the core group that led the Yankees to four World Series championships from 1996-2000 and one more in ’09. Andy Pettitte retired after the 2010 season.

Only Bill Dickey and Yogi Berra have caught more games in pinstripes than Posada (1,574).

He likely will receive strong Hall of Fame consideration after finishing with a career batting average of .273 and producing 275 home runs and 1,065 RBIs in 1,829 games.

Based on reporting by the Associated Press.