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TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- While angry he was blocked from playing for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, Jorge Posada opted not to challenge the New York Yankees.

 

"I don't want to push it," he said Tuesday. "I don't want to get the team mad. I don't want to make the team feel like I'm a hassle. If they didn't want me to play, and I go out there and get hurt, then it's even worse. I want to be healthy, I want to be strong and I want to be ready for the season."

 

Under the tournament's rules, teams could petition the commissioner's office and the players' association to block their players from appearing. New York's move to keep Posada from playing was accepted.

 

"I was upset," the 34-year-old catcher said after working out at the Yankees' minor league complex. "Obviously, I wanted to play for Puerto Rico. I wanted to play in front of my family, to be there and wear that P.R. on my shirt. But it didn't happen."

 

Posada has spent his entire career in the New York organization and would like to retire as a Yankee. His contract runs through this season and has an option for 2007 that likely will become guaranteed if he stays healthy.

 

"It's something we can't get ahead of ourselves on," Posada said. "There's things you can't control, but I want to. I'm a Yankee. I love to put that uniform on."

 

Posada is looking forward to catching ace Randy Johnson on a regular basis this season. Johnson's primary catcher last year was John Flaherty, who signed with Boston during the offseason and was replaced by Kelly Stinnett.

 

"That's our horse," Posada said. "I'm going to make the effort of making him feel comfortable, like Flaherty did."

 

Notes

 

Posada sported a two-week old beard Tuesday. "I was bored," Posada said. He planned to shave Wednesday to be in compliance with owner George Steinbrenner's facial hair policy. ... One day ahead of manager Joe Torre's first day at spring training, Jaret Wright and Shawn Chacon arrived and played catch. Carl Pavano and Chien-Ming Wang arrived previously. ... The Yankees said they were not among the teams that have met with Roger Clemens, although they would be interested in signing the seven-time Cy Young Award winner if he wants to play this year.

I hate the Yankees.

i don't have a problem with this...the Yankees shouldn't have to worry about their key players getting hurt playing some exhibition games

Just the Yankees being primadonnas....again.

Yes shame on the Yankees for protecting one of their bigger pieces. Posada was a big part of their offense last year until he fell apart down the stretch. He got tired, he is getting long in the tooth and not is what he used to be. Also, g-d forbid he went out there and got hurt or something.

 

It's a meaningless series of games. It was meaningless the moment they decided having all-stars teams prior to a 162 game season should play eachother before most of them are even up to par and in in-season shape. Not to mention it lost more credibility when they placed limits on how managers can manage and use players.

 

It's nothing but an attempt by baseball trying to make some easy bucks and get themselves on TV. All the other major sports realized pre-season all-star games, or events of a similar liking, were dumb about 4 decades ago.

 

ST is a time when guys get routinely hurt just stretching, but now we are going to have them play at 110%. Genius!