MLB

POSADA DECIDES TO DELAY SURGERY

Jorge Posada and the Yankees confirmed what was reported in Wednesday’s Post: The All-Star catcher needs right shoulder surgery that will require six months to recover from. But Posada wants to see if two weeks of rest will allow him to help as a designated hitter/first baseman.

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“I have 15 days to make a decision, and there’s no reason not to take the full 15. It’s worse now than it was and that’s the concern,” Posada said yesterday. “It’s a labrum, that much we know. It doesn’t hurt when I hit, but it is restrictive, especially left handed because that’s my lead hand.”

Posada said he is willing to miss the start of next season in order to contribute this year, despite not being able to catch.

“When I have the surgery it’ll be six months. So if I can come back this year and play, it means I’ll miss the first part of next year,” Posada said. “That would be my preference. Right now, I know I can’t catch. And right now this is nothing to do with me any more, it’s about what’s best for the team. I’m just hopeful at the end of the two weeks I’ll be in a position where I can play.”

If he isn’t, the surgery Dr. David Altchek says is necessary likely will be done. Six months from two weeks is early January, more than a month before spring training opens.

“We have 15 days to make up our mind,” manager Joe Girardi said. “We are going to do what’s best for all parties involved.”

Posada was on the disabled list from April 28 to June 3 and went back on the shelf Monday.

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Melky Cabrera will never acknowledge the roll call from the bleachers while going after a ball in the outfield like he did Tuesday night when he botched Denard Span’s leadoff single and allowed Span to reach second.

Cabrera said he learned from the dumb action.

“I was going for the ball and saying hi to the fans. They [Yankees coaches] told me not to do it again,” Cabrera said. “It was my mistake. We are human beings, and we make mistakes so I learned a lesson.”

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Dodgers have an interest in Robinson Cano and might be willing to deal Derek Lowe and outfielder Matt Kemp, but the Yankees aren’t inclined to part with the red-hot second baseman unless there is a front-of-the-rotation-type starter coming to The Bronx. Lowe, who has the stomach for big games and has AL East experience with the Red Sox, doesn’t fit that bill.

Kemp, 23, would be viewed as a replacement for Bobby Abreu in right field next year. Kemp is batting .287 (104-for-362) with 11 homers and 55 RBIs in 94 games this season. His biggest downside is striking out 107 times.

– Additional reporting by Mike Vaccaro