MLB

Girardi: Posada’s foot feeling better

MINNEAPOLIS — Curtis Granderson returns from the disabled list tonight and the Yankees might get Jorge Posada back from the shelf sooner than expected.

“He does feel better,” manager Joe Girardi said of his first-string catcher who hasn’t played since May 16 because of a broken bone in the right foot.

Posada was examined by Dr. Chris Ahmad yesterday and will meet with Girardi today at Yankee Stadium.

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“We will come up with a course of action,” Girardi said before the Yankees’ 8-2 loss last night. “See when he can start baseball activities. We have to see how he is moving.”

When Posada went on the DL, he said he would be back in two weeks despite the prognosis being three to four.

“He feels better, but sitting around and doing things are two different things,” Girardi said.

As for right-handed reliever Alfredo Aceves, he was examined and underwent therapy for a disc problem in the lower back that might require season-ending surgery.

Though Granderson was hitting just .225 when shelved with a groin injury, Girardi said he is anxious to get him back.

“We have been shuffling guys around in the outfield,” Girardi said of Granderson, who hasn’t played since May 1. “He had some pretty big hits and we miss his good defense.”

With Granderson back, Brett Gardner will shift from center to left. And though Granderson likely won’t hit second, Gardner could be moved from second to ninth with Nick Swisher falling in behind Derek Jeter and in front of Mark Teixeira.

“We will make the decision when Granderson is back,” Girardi said of who will hit second.

Because he has options, Kevin Russo is the likely choice to be sent to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A) to make room for Granderson. Nevertheless, last night was the fourth straight game Russo started in left field over switch-hitter Randy Winn.

Because the Yankees are paying Winn $1.1 million, they may not want to designate him for assignment, though he is hitting .213 (13-for-61).