If Hideki Matsui’s left knee fills with fluid again, GM Brian Cashman believes it will be impossible for the Yankee DH to avoid a second knee surgery.
“If the knee swells up we are dealing with last call,” Cashman said last night after Dr. Scott Rodeo recommended to Matsui that surgery was required.
Cashman admires Matsui, who has the knee drained three times, wanting to give it another try even though the odds of Matsui playing again this year are long.
Matsui will go through a rehab process – likely 10 days – and reassess where he is at. Surgery would end Matsui’s season.
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Johnny Damon came off the DL and returned to the lineup as the DH last night, when he went 1-for-4 with a RBI ground-rule double.
Damon was out since suffering a sprained and bruised left shoulder July 4. When he will return to left field isn’t known.
“I threw [yesterday], it felt better than [Sunday],” Damon said.
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Yankee scout Rick Williams is following the Dodgers, who will entertain offers for right-hander Derek Lowe if he will bring L.A. a much-needed bat. Lowe is a free agent after the season. . . .
The Yanks remain interested in Rockies lefty reliever Brian Fuentes. But the consensus is the Rockies are asking too much.
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Carl “American Idle” Pavano is back on the Yankees’ radar. Pavano, who has appeared in 19 games in four Yankee seasons and cost them $40 million, is close to going on a minor-league rehab assignment. . . . Rehabbing reliever Brian Bruney’s next test is working consecutive games. According to Cashman, he will pitch tonight and tomorrow night for SWB (Triple-A). . . . Phil Hughes, out with a fractured rib, is “Very close to throwing batting practice” according to Cashman.