MLB: Cleveland Indians at New York Yankees

New York Yankees former catcher Jorge Posada and wife Laura Posada unveil the plaque commemorating the retirement of his number before the game against the Cleveland Indians at Yankee Stadium.

(Anthony Gruppuso-USA Today Sports)

As Old-Timers' Day took place at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, the day was about the legends that were in attendance. For those able but not in attendance, future Old-Timers' Day events will be their time for a Hideki Matsui moment.



With this summer representing the 20th anniversary of the 1996 Yankees, many of the players from that roster came to the Bronx. In two years, the 1998 Yankees--by far the best group of the dynasty years--will have a summer-long celebration. When that summer arrives, it wouldn't be surprising to see (young) old timer Jorge Posada in attendance.



Posada's 17 years in Yankee pinstripes were extraordinary, but that kind of longevity was almost disrupted by a move across town.



On a CenterStage clip tweeted out by the Yes Network, Posada told a snippet of how he nearly left the Yankees in free agency after the 2007 season. The destination? The cross-town rival Mets.

Wait, WHAT? Jorge Posada was almost a Met?https://t.co/RATbH9uBKr — YES Network (@YESNetwork) June 13, 2016



"I didn't want to (play on another team). We were looking," Posada told host Michael Kay. "The Mets were really, really tough. We didn't hear the offer because obviously that would have been tampering. But they were in it. I'm telling you, they were in it--and it was close."



In 2007, Posada posted one of his best seasons (20 HR, 90 RBI, .338/.426/.543, 153 OPS+) and wanted to cash in one more long-term contract before his career ended. Ultimately, Posada stayed with the Yankees on a four-year deal worth a little over $52 million. Posada slipped (110 OPS+) during the deal, but was still an above-average player for most of the pact. Without his 22 HR campaign in 2009, the last Yankees World Series winning team doesn't dominate the league in close to the same way.

Jorge to HOF?



"I'm a Yankee," Posada said, wrapping up the story. "I'll always be a Yankee."



That might only be because the Mets didn't close the deal and steal him away nearly a decade ago.

Joe Giglio may be reached at jgiglio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeGiglioSports. Find NJ.com on Facebook.