San Francisco Giants’ Buster Posey opts out of 2020 season
Jul 10, 2020, 9:52 AM
Buster Posey #28 of the San Francisco Giants rounds the bases after hitting a two run home run during the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Oracle Park on September 24, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
(Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey will opt out of the 2020 season, the team announced on Friday.
Posey and his wife are adopting twin girls who were born prematurely and are in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly reported.
Had he played, the 33-year-old Posey also would have been on a Giants team that finished eight games under .500 in 2019 but lost ace Madison Bumgarner to the Diamondbacks this offseason. They also saw lockdown closer Will Smith walk in free agency and join the Atlanta Braves. Veteran starters Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija are still on the team, but the former hasn’t pitched the better part of a season since 2017.
Posey, while no longer putting up the numbers that won him the MVP in 2012, is important part of the Giants and will be missed.
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In 2019, the six-time All-Star hit .257 with seven home runs and 38 RBIs while playing mostly at catcher and some games at first base.
As it relates to the Diamondbacks, the Giants were a longshot for a playoff spot with or without Posey with the firepower in the NL West remaining mostly with San Francisco’s division foes.
Posey is signed through 2021 with a club option for 2022, according to Spotrac.
