CLEVELAND — With the trade deadline looming tomorrow at 4 p.m., should the Yankees be looking into acquiring a catcher?
Listening to manager Joe Girardi talk about Jorge Posada’s left knee, which wasn’t healthy enough for him to catch for the third straight game last night, it might make sense for general manager Brian Cashman to look into who’s available. That’s especially true because Girardi didn’t feel comfortable using Posada as the designated hitter for last night’s 11-4 win over the Indians, though he played in that spot Wednesday night.
“I thought he would be able to play today but is still sore,” said Girardi, who explained Posada was available to catch if something happened to Francisco Cervelli. “Hopefully he will play [tonight]. He told me it was cranky. Give him a day off and see where we are at.”
When he squats to catch, Posada is bothered a cyst in the back of his knee. It’s a problem that surfaced in 2006.
The Yankees might need more offense at the catching position, because Cervelli has come back to earth in both his hitting and fielding. After going 1-for-5 last night, he is in a 2-for-18 (.111) funk. Chad Moeller, who is playing for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, is insurance for the Bombers.
The list of available catchers on the market is slim. The Mets will listen to offers for Rod Barajas when he comes off the disabled list, but it’s an extreme long shot they would help the Yankees. Both Colorado’s Chris Ianneta or Toronto’s Jose Molina, a former Yankee, might be available.
The cyst the latest problem in a trying year for Posada, who will turn 39 on Aug. 17. He spent 15 games on the disabled list with a fractured right foot suffered in the middle of May. In late April, his right knee barked and in early May a right calf problem cost him four games. In 70 games, Posada is hitting .269 with 12 homers and 38 RBIs.
Never one to make excuses, Posada painted a better picture than Girardi.
“I am good, just giving me an extra day, we have a big series coming up,” Posada said of the three-game series against the Rays that opens tonight at Tropicana Field. He said he expects to catch in two of the games. “It does feel better than when it first flared up [Monday night].”
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Alfredo Aceves threw a split bullpen session, and if he is able to get through another one tomorrow, there is a chance the valuable reliever will be able to begin pitching in minor league rehab games next week.
“Maybe he will pitch in a game soon, within a week,” Girardi said of the right-hander, who has been out since mid-May with a lower back problem.
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Phil Hughes, tonight’s starter against the Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla., is a better bet on the road than at home.
Hughes is 5-1 with a 2.36 ERA in five road starts compared with 7-2 with a 5.21 ERA in 11 starts in The Bronx. Amazingly, all of the 15 homers hit off Hughes have been at home.
“I don’t alter my preparation, I have to make better pitches at home,” Hughes said.
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To get Alex Rodriguez an inning off in the blowout win Girardi used Marcus Thames at third base in the ninth with mixed results. Thames made a nice back-handed stop of Jayson Nix‘s hard grounder, but threw well over the head of Juan Miranda, playing first base.
That made Thames, an outfielder, the target of clubhouse laughter when the play was shown on television.
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According to Girardi, Andy Pettitte worked hard Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in Tampa and took it slow yesterday as he battles a left groin problem.
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Mark Teixeira said he thinks very highly of Buck Showalter, hired yesterday as the Orioles’ new manager.
“Buck is a great manager, I owe a lot of my early success to Buck. He believed in me as a young player,” said Teixeira, who played for the former Yankees manager in Texas. “That team has young talent and hasn’t been able to win. He always told me the game was hard to play and don’t get too down on yourself. He made me feel comfortable and believed in me.”