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2007 Posada quietly had a great year. While postseason talking heads spent October smooching Pudge Rodriguez`s overrated fundament, they missed that, for the sixth year in a row, Posada left him in the dust. Since 2000, BP`s translated batting stats have Posada hitting .283/.395/.506 with a .307 EqA, while Rodriguez has hit .314/.358/.524 with a .296 EqA. In addition to the huge lead in OBP, Posada also led Pudge in isolated power .210 to .198. (He also outproduced Mike Piazza`s translated .291/.369/.535, .302 EqA over that span.) Posada caught up defensively this year as well. Coach Tony Pena tweaked Posada`s throwing mechanics, and the result was a career high in runners caught stealing (though his passed ball tendencies persisted). Posada will remain valuable for at least another year or two. 2006 It was his weakest season since 1999, yet he still posted a .285 EQA. Though the Yankees are correctly nervous about the tendency of catchers in his age group to suffer a sudden, rapid collapse, they underrate his combination of power and patience at their own risk as it`s not easily found in a backstop. In terms of pitches seen per PA it was the least patient year of Posada`s career, but as fall dawned, Posada went back to his old, selective ways, seeing over four pitchers per. Not coincidentally, September was his best month since May. He has more left in the tank; his walks and power will shore up his value even as his batting average fades. 2005 Early in the off-season there were rumors that Posada might be traded, a ludicrous proposition. In previous seasons, when Posada was one of one or two productive backstops in the league, he represented a huge advantage, as if the Yankees got to play two first basemen to their opponents' one. Now that there are a few more hitters at the position, he still prevents the strategic balance from shifting towards other teams. Posada had a torrid spring, a weak June, then spent the rest of the season hitting about like he always does. Given the light workload of his early career—thanks Joe Girardi!—there is no reason to think he can't keep it up at least through the '06 end of his contract. The Yankees undervalue him at their own risk. 2003 There were major concerns about whether or not Posada’s surgically repaired shoulder would be ready to go by Opening Day, but he was fully recovered in time, and logged another nifty season. It’s hard not to be a little bittersweet about Posada; he had to waste time waiting for Joe Girardi to be moved aside, so like Ellie Howard, his career totals probably won’t end up jumping off the charts. However, Posada didn’t really start catching until 1992, converting in his second pro season. If that’s saved his knees any wear and tear, he could age relatively gracefully. Physically, although he’s got an old player skill set, he was once a pretty nimble second baseman. He’ll be the league’s best catcher for another couple of seasons, but I like his chances of retaining a lot of his value well into his 30s. 2002 Jorge Posada is a great ballplayer, a switch hitter who actually should be one, hitting for power and average and showing good plate discipline. He's good at working with pitchers and relatively durable, too. Posada is arb-eligible this season and eligible for free agency after the 2002 season. The Yankees would be wise to sign him to a four-year deal. 2001 That'll do. Jorge Posada was the best catcher in the AL last year. Even with Ivan Rodriguez healthy, Posada shouldn't slip further than second, maybe third if Mitch Meluskey plays a lot. Posada tired a bit in September and is not a big guy, so playing him in 151 games again would be a mistake. Then again, with Joe Oliver as the backup, maybe Posada should go for 162. 2000 He suffered through a first half so bad that the Yankees, worried by his spiraling strikeout rate and a spate of passed balls, had his eyesight tested. Nothing unusual was detected, and Posada played much better in the second half, despite which he still was on the bench for most of the postseason. He hits much better from the right side, and will play a few weeks of winter ball to work on his swing from the left side. Still, the Yankees would be well served to find a left-handed-hitting backup. He will outperform that projection with more playing time, especially now that Personal Catcher to the Stars is gone. 1999 The second-best catcher in the league behind Ivan Rodriguez, Posada has great secondary skills, is a legitimate switch-hitter, throws well and is getting better at the other aspects of catching. I think he'll peak around a .900 OPS in the next few years. He's thin, and wore down late this year, so I think having a quality backup around is a good idea. Maybe Girardi knows someone. 1998 Posada finally got his well-deserved job in the majors this year. He started slowly, but was fantastic in the second half. Obviously, he’s a better player than Girardi, and should be the regular catcher this year. His physique—he’s not a big guy—is a bit of a concern, and since he seems more comfortable batting left-handed, a quality right-handed semi-platoon partner would be a good idea. Posada will be a good player for the next few years. 1997 Yummy. Posada also has a good defensive reputation to go with the numbers above, and deserves at least a share of the catching job in New York. What the Yankees do at catcher will tell us a lot about their chances in 1997 and beyond. Posada is much cheaper and…better than Girardi. 1996 There are worse catching prospects...in front of him on the depth chart.
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