Derek Jeter insists youll never see him play in an Old-Timers Day game, but he also pushed back at a suggestion that hes the reason the Yankees discontinued the longstanding tradition. Theyre not gonna see me hit again. No, I would be afraid I would hurt myself, Jeter said when asked about his influence on there no longer being a game at the annual event, including both years hes participated. But thats not saying the reason theres no game is because Im not playing. I dont make those decisions, contrary to your belief. I dont make those decisions when it comes to whether theres a game or not. So why are you asking me? You can direct [that question] to Hal [Steinbrenner]. Yankees Derek Jeter salutes fans as he walks out to the field for introductions during Old Timers Day before a game against the Colorado Rockies, Saturday, Aug. 24. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST After leaving his front office and ownership position with the Marlins, Jeter made his first Old-Timers Day appearance at Justin Martinez Jersey the Stadium last year. The Yankees first stopped playing the game in the 2020 pandemic year and theyve continued with a Q&A se sion in its place the past few years. A slimmed-down CC Sabathia donned his No. 52 pinstriped jersey as the 2009 World Series team was honored on Saturday, but the Yankees former ace noted his disappointment that there no longer is a game played. Explore More The 44-year-old retired hurler said he absolutely would have played in it. My cutter is ready. Well, its ready for these guys, Sabathia joked. I play catch, I have a 14-year-old, and he pitches, so I play catch with him and throw him BP, as good as I can. I told them I wanted to play the game. Well see [for the future], but I think it would be fun to get these guys back out there moving around, even if its a softball game. Yankees greats Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter are all laughs as they sit on the field during Old Timers Day before a game against the Colorado Rockies, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024 Corey Sipkin for the NY POST Jorge Posada agreed with Jeter, his Core 4 teammate, over Sabathia, who joined them for the fifth championship in 2009. No, no, no. NO, Posada said emphatically when asked if hed wished they still played the game. Im 54. I get out of bed and I wonder what I did wrong just laying down. CCs a lot younger.And hes in better shape than when he was playing. Im pretty sure he can still do it, but its hard, man. We laugh about it, but its hard. I havent picked up a bat. I played softball the other day and it was ugly. So I dont see it happening. So I think its the right decision and we can enjoy ourselves instead of having the pre sure of trying to hit the ball again. David Cone, who yielded an OTD home run to Hideki Matsui in the 2016 game, also was a yes vote on resurrecting the game in the future. Mariano Rivera also legged out an inside-the-park homer in 2019. CC Sabathia salutes fans as he walks out to the field for introductions during Old Timers Day before a game against the Colorado Rockies, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024 Corey Sipkin for the NY POST I would welcome it, Cone said. Im the last guy to give up a home run, to Matsui a couple of years pre-COVID. It was fun. Tino [Martinez] took me deep, too. We always had fun with it, the last couple of years they did it. Theres been a lot of rumors why they dont do it, but I know its always difficult just to get enough guys healthy enough to get out therePeople get lawyered up, but I could lob one in there for Jorge to go deep, absolutely. I wouldnt be surprised if we have another one at some point. Brandon Pfaadt Jersey