Giants' Posey retires after 12 seasons
It's the end of an era in San Francisco.
Giants catcher Buster Posey, the heartbeat of the franchise over the past decade, announced his retirement during a press conference Thursday.
San Francisco planned to exercise its $22-million club option on Posey's contract before he decided to retire, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reported.
Posey is walking away after what was his best season in several years. He struggled offensively in 2019 and opted out of the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, but the 34-year-old turned back the clock this year by hitting .304/.390/.499 with 18 homers and 56 RBIs over 113 games. The 34-year-old helped lead the Giants to a franchise-record 107 wins and their first postseason appearance since 2016.
If 2021 proves to be Buster Posey's final season, he'd be 1 of 6 players in the divisional era (since 1969) to hit .300 or better in his final MLB season, along with David Ortiz, Will Clark, Kirby Puckett, Lou Brock and Roberto Clemente. pic.twitter.com/bfuUXYRxSO
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 3, 2021
Posey remained noncommittal about his future after San Francisco was eliminated from the 2021 playoffs. He's dealt with many injuries in recent years, including at least two concussions, according to Baggarly.
"I'm definitely just going to take some time with my wife, talk to her, and I'll be able to be a full-time dad of four kids for the first time in a while," Posey said after the Giants' season-ending loss in the NLDS on Oct. 14, according to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area. "Yeah, just kind of take it slowly and see how things progress."
San Francisco selected the Florida State product fifth overall in the 2008 draft, and he reached the majors one year later. He was named National League Rookie of the Year in 2010, the same season he helped the Giants earn their first World Series title since moving to San Francisco in 1958. Overall, he guided the Giants to five playoff berths and three championships during what's been the franchise's most successful era in decades.
He retires owning a lifetime slash line of .302/.372/.460 with 1,500 hits, 158 home runs, and 729 RBIs across 1,371 regular-season games. Posey was a seven-time All-Star and won four Silver Slugger Awards (and is a finalist this year), one Gold Glove, and the 2012 NL MVP. During his MVP campaign, he became one of just four catchers to win a batting title.
Posey accrued 116 defensive runs saved over his career and threw out 33% of would-be base-stealers. He also caught three no-hitters, including Matt Cain's perfect game in 2012.
Posey also overcame serious leg and ankle injuries sustained in a home-plate collision that cost him most of the 2011 season. His injury was severe enough to inspire a rule change that eliminated crashes at the plate; it's now colloquially known as the "Posey Rule."