Posada Will Have Surgery and Be Out Six Months

By TYLER KEPNER

Published: July 29, 2008

Jorge Posada arrived at Yankee Stadium on Monday and went to work in the batting cage in his effort to return as a designated hitter. Two hours later, he learned his season was over.

General Manager Brian Cashman and Manager Joe Girardi told Posada he was free to have season-ending surgery to repair labrum and capsule damage in his right shoulder. The trade for outfielder Xavier Nady makes Johnny Damon the full-time D.H.

The surgery is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, and Cashman said the recovery would take a minimum of six months. But considering Posada’s age (37 next month) and the unpredictable nature of shoulder injuries, it could take up to a year.

“You can’t expect anything — you hope,” Cashman said. “When you mess with shoulders, those are the dangerous ones.”

Posada, who had told reporters earlier Monday that he wanted to keep playing, said in a statement that he understood the need for surgery. He finished the season with a .268 average, 3 home runs and 22 runs batted in over 51 games.

“With Xavier here now, there isn’t as much pressure on me to return,” Posada said. “As difficult as it is, I can now focus on coming back 100 percent for next season instead of coming back at less than that now.”

TALKS WITH SEATTLE COOL It says a lot about the philosophical gulf between the Yankees and the Mariners that Seattle expressed interest in the Yankees’ top prospect, reliever Mark Melancon, in a potential deal for starter Jarrod Washburn. Barring a major shift by the Mariners before Thursday’s trading deadline, the teams will not make a trade.

The co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner could not mention Washburn’s name directly on Monday, but there was no doubt what he was talking about when asked about potential trades.

Steinbrenner, who has taken an active role in consulting with Brian Cashman, agreed that improving the back of the rotation was an obvious priority, and he said that a contract running through next season (such as Washburn’s) would not stand in the way of a move. But he added an ominous note.

“We made a good deal with the Pirates, but we did give away several good, young people, and that’s the way it has to be,” Steinbrenner said. “It’s going to have to be our trade. Anything we do is going to be our trade.”

That was a clear signal that the Yankees will not meet the Mariners’ initial requests for Washburn, who is owed about $14 million through next season. The Yankees see Washburn as a marginal upgrade and do not believe another team would take his contract.

Because of that, the Yankees see no reason to part with a top prospect unless the Mariners take Kei Igawa. The Mariners, meanwhile, seem to believe there could be a strong market for Washburn this winter if he continues to pitch well.

Things could change before Thursday’s 4 p.m. deadline, but for now there is no momentum toward a deal.

“Anybody who thinks that there’s something hot should check with their source, because they’re lying to you,” Cashman said, referring to all potential deals. “It’s frigid out there.”

MATSUI TAKES SOME SWINGS Wearing a brace on his inflamed left knee, Hideki Matsui took 20 swings off a tee before Monday’s game. Matsui said he felt fine and that barring any setbacks, he hoped to begin a rehabilitation assignment in a week or two. Matsui can take his time, because he could have surgery on the knee in November and still be ready for spring training.

WANG’S CAST COMING OFF Chien-Ming Wang said he expected to have the cast removed from his right foot on Tuesday, the first significant step in a monotonous recovery from the injury he sustained June 15. Wang will be on crutches for another week as he starts to walk again, and he may begin throwing while seated in a chair.

Asked if he thought he had enough time to return to the Yankees this season, Wang said, “I’ll try to do it.”

Wang said he spent most of his time watching television and playing basketball on PlayStation. He summed up his rehab in one word: “Boring.”

UPDATE ON HUGHES AND PAVANO Because of bad weather in Tampa, Fla., Phil Hughes and Carl Pavano are now scheduled to pitch on Tuesday for Class A Charleston. They will be limited to two innings, or roughly 35 pitches, but because of the nature of their injuries — a fractured rib for Hughes, an elbow operation for Pavano — Hughes has a greater chance to contribute this season.

“Hughes has a chance to fly through his rehab more so than Pavano, because Pavano’s coming back from elbow reconstruction, and that has a lot more obstacles,” Brian Cashman said. “Phil Hughes has no elbow or shoulder issues. Carl’s going to have a tougher road.”

News source：http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/29/sports/baseball/29pins.html?_r=1&ref=baseball&oref=slogin