The New York Yankees are preparing for one of the most familiar postseason matchups in baseball, with the Boston Red Sox set to arrive in the Bronx for a best-of-three American League Wild Card Series beginning Tuesday.

New York entered the postseason after finishing the regular season 93-68 and will host all three potential games at Yankee Stadium. It’s a matchup that carries plenty of history, including just a year ago.

“In their previous six (postseason) match-ups, each team has won three series (some more memorable than others),” The Athletic recalled . “Last year, it was the Yankees who came out on top in a three-game Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium.”

But while the Yankees are looking to repeat that recent success against their historic rival, the organization also had reason to pause on Monday and remember the contributions of one of its former players.

New York Yankees Long-Time Utility Piece Announces Retirement Just 1 Day Before Postseason

Just as his former team prepared to welcome the Red Sox, long-time Yankees infielder Tyler Wade took to social media to announce his sudden retirement from the sport.

“For as long as I can remember, all I ever wanted was to play in the major leagues,” Wade wrote . “Now, 13 years later and after 9 years in the big leagues, it’s time to move on.”

The Yankees selected Wade in the fourth round of the 2013 MLB Draft, and he eventually made his major league debut with New York in June 2017, beginning a career that would see him become a valuable utility option capable of moving around the infield and outfield.

Wade appeared in 30 games for New York as a rookie and continued moving between the Yankees and Triple-A over the following seasons. His most productive season with the club came in 2021, when he played 103 games and stole 17 bases while establishing himself as a versatile bench piece.

After the 2021 season, the Yankees designated Wade for assignment and traded him to the Los Angeles Angels. He subsequently spent time with several organizations, including the Oakland Athletics and San Diego Padres, before joining the Texas Rangers on a minor league contract ahead of the 2026 season.

9-Year MLB Veteran Calls New York Yankees ‘Best Franchise In All Of Sports’ In Retirement Message

His final major league appearance came with San Diego in 2025. Wade hit .206 with nine RBI and one stolen base across 59 games that season.

Despite the winding path after leaving New York, Wade’s retirement message made clear that his time with the Yankees remained central to his baseball journey.

“I want to thank the Yankees for taking a chance on an 18-year-old kid and giving me the opportunity to live out my dream of playing for the best franchise in all of sports,” he added.

Now, as Wade embarks on a life after baseball, his former team will turn its attention back to a highly anticipated playoff matchup after wishing him well.