Retirement Announced by AP Jorge with Familiar Decision

New York - Jorge Posada was planning to retire after 17 times in the New York Yankees than pursue opportunities with other teams.

A person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press Saturday that the five-time All-Star Catcher will announce his retirement this month.

Jorge Posada signal runner Russell Martin as they scored in the seventh inning on a hit by Brett Gardner in the three match series against the American Baseball League division of the Detroit Tigers in Detroit. A person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press Saturday, January 7, 2012, the five-time All-Star Catcher will announce his retirement this month.

New York Yankees' Jorge Posada reacts after pressing a home run in the eighth inning of Game 3 of the American League Championship Baseball Series against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, California. A person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Saturday, January. 7, 2012, the five-time All-Star Catcher will announce his retirement this month.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision was not made public. Posada plans were first reported by WFAN sports radio station.

La Posada 40 years has won five World Series titles with the team that drafted 24th in the 1990 draft. He became a free agent after one season to try New York last year of a four-year, $ 52 million contract.

Earlier this offseason, Posada acknowledged that his career was over Yankees, but said he had offers from several other teams.

Posada retirement leave shortstop Derek Jeter and closer Mariano Rivera and the two players left of the core group that led the Yankees to four World Series championships from 1996-2000 and another in '09. Andy Pettitte retired after the 2010 season.

Only Bill Dickey and Yogi Berra have caught more games than Posada stripes (1574).

But Posada lost his job to catch the start of last season and struggled early in his new role as designated hitter. The batter-switch hitter against left-0165, May 14, when he fell to No. 9 in the batting order and asked to leave the game against Boston.

He continued by pressing a career-low 0235 with 14 homers and 44 RBIs in 115 games, playing sporadically in September after a top prospect Jesus Montero is called. Posada was the winning move - a simple power of two - against Tampa Bay on Sept. 21, winning the AL East New York.

Posada hit 0,429 in five games division series loss in Detroit, receiving standing ovations and long songs "Jor-ge! Jor-ge "at Yankee Stadium.

Posada hit .273 for his career with 275 runs and RBIs in 1065, winning the Silver Slugger Award five times as the best hitting catcher in the American League.