Buster Posey to announce his retirement tomorrow

It has been reported by multiple outlets that Buster Posey plans to announce his retirement from baseball during a press conference tomorrow.

The San Francisco Giants had until Sunday to exercise their team option, but as John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle pointed out on Twitter, Posey had never publicly expressed a desire to play past this season. When asked, he said he would discuss it with his family before making a decision, and that decision has now reportedly been made.

There aren’t a lot of details at the moment, just a lot of stunned and heartbroken fans. Posey absolutely does not owe us any more than he’s given us. But I know I’m not alone in wishing we’d had the opportunity to send him off with the love and fanfare he has earned in his years with the team. But perhaps he didn’t want fanfare, that’s never really been his way.

I know the joke of the 2021 season was that Brandon Belt was the unofficial captain. But that title has belonged to Posey basically since he became the full time catcher for the team. He has led the team with a quiet confidence and level head, shaping countless pitchers along the way.

You don’t need a full list of Posey’s accomplishments with the team, but I’ll give you some highlights anyway. 2010 Rookie of the Year, 2012 National League MVP, seven time All Star, four time Silver Slugger, three time World Series champion, 2021 NL Comeback Player of the Year.

Posey has been behind the plate for a lot of the most iconic moments in the Giants’ San Francisco era history. When he hangs up his cleats, he’ll be leaving behind a legacy that will live on in the hearts and minds of not only Giants fans, but baseball fans in general, for decades to come. We can only hope that he’ll remain or return to the organization, in some fashion, down the road.

Thank you for everything, Buster. You will be so very missed on this team.