Andrew Baggarly, Giants beat writer: Despite being one of the greatest players of his generation, Posey never let baseball define him. He did not hesitate to walk away from $8 million in 2020, when he opted out of a pandemic-shortened season to protect the health of his prematurely born twin babies. He clearly valued his time as a husband and father more than the chance to make $22 million next season, or even negotiate a multiyear extension. Posey was never the most physical catcher — he converted to the position as a college junior — and his body has taken more than a decade of punishment behind the plate: a shattered ankle in a collision in 2011, major hip surgery in 2018 and multiple trips to the concussion list.
It took an extreme regimen and a disciplined two-on, one-off playing schedule to keep him performing at his best in 2021, and perhaps he felt he wouldn't have fully bought into the grind and obligation that came with playing another season. Posey has stated many times that he would rather retire as a Giant than go elsewhere and attempt to pad his Hall of Fame credentials.
It took an extreme regimen and a disciplined two-on, one-off playing schedule to keep him performing at his best in 2021, and perhaps he felt he wouldn't have fully bought into the grind and obligation that came with playing another season. Posey has stated many times that he would rather retire as a Giant than go elsewhere and attempt to pad his Hall of Fame credentials.
