Manager Joe Girardi has lost another player.
This time, Travis Hafner is headed to the disabled list with a strained right shoulder. Considering his past shoulder problems, it could be an ominous sign for the Yankees designated hitter.
Hafner, 36, spent time on the DL because of his right shoulder in 2008 (a strain that cost him three and a half months). In 2009, Hafner suffered more shoulder soreness that sidelined him for a little more than a month and in 2010, he missed two weeks with shoulder inflammation. For the Yankees and Hafner, the alarming part about this latest shoulder injury is the last time it was strained was in 2008, when Hafner missed his most time.
Girardi said Hafner was hurt in Friday’s 10-6 loss to the Rays. He did not play in Saturday’s 1-0 loss.
“I was told after his last at-bat. Vernon [Wells] was going to hit for him,” Girardi said. “He has not complained of his shoulder. He’s not been getting treatment really on his shoulder. That leads me to believe it was one swing.”
Though Hafner’s injury history is significant, general manager Brian Cashman said on Friday his slumping DH was fine.
“The first concern would be his history, has been health,” Cashman said that day. “He’s healthy.”
Not anymore. Hafner is now headed to the DL for the 10th time in his career and for the eighth time since 2008.
With no Hafner, Girardi likely will rotate the DH spot among right-handed hitters Wells, Alfonso Soriano, Derek Jeter and perhaps Alex Rodriguez.
Hafner has been in a major slump, hitting just .151 (21-for-139) with four homers and a .478 OPS in his last 43 games.
On Friday, Cashman praised Hafner as a person and said he has hit the ball hard on outs.
“One thing I’ve always been able to count on from watching Travis in his career is that when he’s healthy he can hit,” Cashman said. “He has struggled here recently for an extended period of time now.”