MLB

Posada won’t give up squat without a fight

TAMPA — Many people relocate to Miami to retire. Jorge Posada did so to ward off retirement.

Rest and relaxation were not on his itinerary. In fact, if you think you saw Posada bicycling around the Fisher Island region this winter, you probably did. The relocation from Manhattan to Florida was designed to allow Posada to take parts of his conditioning outdoors. And two or three times a week, he and Yankees strength and conditioning coordinator Dana Cavalea — whom Posada has used as a personal trainer in each of the last three offseasons — endured 50-mile bike rides through the streets and over the bridges of Miami.

Posada pedaled against age and history, the coming avalanche of Yankees catching prospects and the evils done by the most merciless job in this sport.

“He loves baseball and he wants to play as long as possible,” Cavalea said.

So aside from his Tour de Miami jaunts, the hard working Posada worked harder than ever at age 38. He put in 3 1⁄2-hour session five days a week beginning on Dec. 1. The results are less weight (down to 210 pounds) and body fat, and greater strength. Yankees bench coach Tony Pena, who caught until he was 40, thinks Posada “looks 30.”

The Yanks employed Posada as a role model for 20-year-old Jesus Montero, the organization’s best prospect, who showed up more than 30 pounds overweight. Montero attached himself to Posada, called the veteran “my daddy.” Posada said he was “disappointed” how Montero showed up, but proud Montero returned to minor league camp at his prescribed 230 pounds, with Posada’s wisdom about nuances of catching and how to prepare his body for the long haul.

When asked if that was weird, to be essentially advising a talented youngster how to take his job, Posada laughed.

“No, it’s a challenge,” he said. “I have to keep getting better. These kids have energy and strength, but I am going to make them work hard if they want (his job).”

So he pedals. Because the future is fast approaching. The Yanks have depth in just one prospect area, catcher. Francisco Cervelli will back up Posada, Montero will be at Triple-A, Austin Romine at Double-A, and two other catchers the Yanks adore, J.R. Murphy and Gary Sanchez, will be further down. They are queued up, advancing, all wanting what Posada has.

So he pedals. Because the past is an ugly history lesson. Last year Posada hit 22 homers in his age-37 season. So did Mike Piazza in 2006. Piazza never caught another inning, hit eight homers in 2007 and retired. With catchers, it can go quickly.

Besides Posada and Piazza, Carlton Fisk is the only other catcher 37 or older to reach 20 homers, doing it twice. In fact, with Posada now 38, here is the entire list of catchers 38 or older with more than 12 homers in a season: Fisk, who did it six times. Fisk and Bob Boone are the only catchers in major league history to show consistent year-after-year durability in their late-30s.

Posada has the great pedaling work ethic to try to join that list. And you don’t make it this far without favorable genetics and steely pride. He also was a middle infielder through his first professional season in 1991. So the squatting wear and tear on his legs does not go back into his amateur days.

Still, he has caught in 1,490 regular-season games, plus another 110 in the postseason — or the equivalent the Yankees hope Posada can provide in 2010. The last catcher 38-or-older to start 110 or more games was two decades ago, when the 42-year-old Fisk started 112 games for the 1990 White Sox.

So he pedals. Because the Yanks want to keep enjoying the great offensive advantages he provides at catcher (Posada’s .885 OPS last year was the best ever by a catcher 37 or older, minimum 400 plate appearances). And he pedals because he needs it. He loves catching. And he is not ready to give it up any time soon.

joel.sherman@nypost.com