Scant hours after Jorge Posada said in worried tones that he hoped he was still in the Yankees’ plans, and an hour after he tried to hit in batting practice, the Bombers announced that the catcher was going to have season-ending surgery on his right shoulder.
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Dr. David Altchek – who examined Posada last Tuesday – will handle the surgery, though it’s unclear when it will be performed. What’s obvious is this past weekend’s acquisition of right-handed Xavier Nady made this move possible, if not inevitable, and that Posada, who has rehabbed his injured right shoulder during two stints on the disabled list this season, was despondent about it.
“I just met with Jorge and he’s going to have the surgery,” said GM Brian Cashman, who insisted Posada was on board with the decision. “The reason we were going through the process we did before was we didn’t have someone to slot in there as a hitter. Now we do, with Xavier Nady.
“I talked to (co-chairmen) Hal and Hank (Steinbrenner). They’re on board. Jorge and I met just now. It’s the obvious way to go. I think this is also what we wanted. He was willing to do what we wanted. There was a need. He was delaying the surgery for that need. Now that we have a hitter, there’s a big difference.”
Posada’s didn’t act like somebody who wanted surgery, having just started rehab and then hitting before last night’s 13-4 loss to the Orioles in the opener of a three-game series. Later, he addressed the decision via a statement issued by the team.
“After speaking with Brian and (manager) Joe (Girardi), we thought it was best for me – and the team – to have the surgery now,” the statement read. “I’ve always taken pride in being there for my team and playing every day with them. With Xavier (Nady) here, there isn’t as much pressure on me to return.
“As difficult as it is, I can now focus on coming back 100 percent next season instead of coming back at less than that now. Until then, I still plan on being a teammate and friend to the guys I share this room with. I may not be playing, but I want to be part of this team and the run we’re on.”
The shoulder plagued Posada during spring training, and he was pulled for Jose Molina during the second game of the season. Posada went on the DL for the first time in his career in April and returned to it again last week.
“It was a balancing act before,” Cashman said. “Jorge could still help as a DH. Now . . . we’ve got more flexibility to go forward with surgery than we had a week ago. This is something he knew he needed and wanted.”
Cashman wouldn’t commit to Posada being back by spring.
“Whenever you have shoulder surgery, you can’t expect anything,” Cashman said. “You hope, but nothing is certain. Whenever you mess with shoulders, those are the dangerous ones.”
In part because Molina entered Sunday night with a 3.32 catcher’s ERA – tops in the majors – Cashman said he didn’t plan to deal for another catcher.
“I don’t think so,” the GM said. “If I wind up running into one I don’t want to be called a liar, but I’m certainly not optimistic. We’re planning on going with what we’ve got unless the market surprises me.”
Earlier yesterday afternoon, Posada said his plan was to return.
“The plan’s still the same unless they change it,” he said. “Obviously I’m not catching; that’s what I like to do. We’ll see. I don’t know. I hope I’m still in the plans.”