Bernie Williams Officially Retires with Yankees: Latest Comments and Reaction

Bernie Williams hasn't played in a Major League Baseball game since 2006, but the 16-year veteran will make his retirement official by signing his papers at Yankee Stadium on Friday. 

According to the Yankees' official Twitter feed, Williams' retirement will include a press conference with the media and a Monument Park plaque dedication:

As Jesse Spector of Sporting News jokingly noted on Twitter, Williams' retirement means that Carlos Beltran's spot with the Yankees is secure:

Williams spent his entire career playing for the Yankees. The 46-year-old won four championships (1996, 1998-2000) and was selected as an All-Star five times.

He came up in 1991 and isn't directly associated to the Core Four group of Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera. However, there's little doubt Williams fit in nicely with that group by hitting .297/.381/.477 in his career.

The Yankees already announced in February that Williams, along with Posada and Pettitte, would have their numbers retired in a ceremony this summer.