New York Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman stated that he has spoken with former catcher Jorge Posada to clear the air after Posada publicly expressed feeling unwelcome by the organization. Posada's remarks, made on The Post's baseball podcast, "The Show with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman," suggested that he does not believe the Yankees want him around.
Cashman, speaking at the MLB General Managers Meetings in Las Vegas, said he was surprised by Posada's comments but confirmed he had since communicated with the four-time World Series champion. "He is welcome," Cashman stated. He acknowledged the current media landscape, where "everybody's got a platform," leading to more opinions being projected.
Posada's comments came during an offseason where several former Yankees players and coaches have been critical of the team following their American League Division Series exit, extending the franchise's championship drought since 2009. This follows similar sentiments voiced by other former Yankees like CC Sabathia, Anthony Rizzo, and manager Joe Girardi, who cited issues ranging from a lack of accountability to a potential misunderstanding of the Yankees' standards among current players.
Cashman previously suggested that external criticisms were not the primary reason for the team's playoff shortcomings. He emphasized the difficulty of winning in baseball and reminded former players that falling short of expectations can appear negative, regardless of the effort behind the scenes. "If somebody has got some good, constructive suggestions of how to get there, then I'm open minded. I'm not shy," Cashman added.
Despite these recent remarks, Cashman highlighted the Yankees' continued relationship with Posada, noting that manager Aaron Boone regularly invites former players, including Posada, to spring training. Posada has also been invited to Old-Timers' Day and participated in a show hosted by Cashman's daughter. Cashman stressed the organization's valuation of both its present team and its past.