Posada Should Opt For Season-Ending Surgery

Jorge Posada started this season on the disabled list and has been placed back on the 15 Day DL all because of his shoulder.

Currently Posada has made it known that he does not want to have surgery on his shoulder despite the fact that if he does not have it soon, it may stop him from playing the first couple months of next season as the surgery he needs to get requires about six months rehab.

While his decision is not final, it should be.

Posada can not catch if he returns this season which would place him at first base or as the designated hitter.

Posada says he wants to do what is best for the team and what would be best for the team, as well as himself would be to have the surgery now.

The sooner he has it done, the better chance he will be one hundred percent for opening day come next season.

When the Yanks were protecting Posada's arm and playing him at other positions, Posada said he is not a DH or a first baseman and that he is a catcher. His stats back up his statement, as this season, Posada is batting .293 with a .377 OBP as the back stop while as a first baseman he is batting .167 with an OBP of .231 and as a DH, he is batting .231 with a .365 OBP. He had 99 at bats (AB) as a catcher, 12 AB at first and 52 AB as the DH.

So, if he is not comfortable and more importantly, not productive, why play? As far as being a first baseman, he is a defensive liability and the Yankees are filled with DH's.

With the acquisition of Richie Sexson, Jason Giambi is set to see much more time in that position and with Johnny Damon's banged up shoulder, he will be seeing some time as the DH and in the long term, Damon throughout the season has seen some time as DH just to keep him fresh as well.

If Hideki Matsui returns and he opts not to have surgery this season either, he can not play the outfield and would be a full-time DH.

So, with Giambi, Sexson, Damon and Wilson Betemit currently filling out the first base and DH positions, even if Matsui and Posada could return, where would they play? They have been replaced.

Giambi has shown he can play an average first base, Sexson is not a gold glover, but is an above average fielder, who at six feet and eight inches tall, is a nice big target for Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano.

It really does not look like Matsui will return this season, but Posada could. Posada will not be playing at full strength, will be taking at bats away from guys who are hitting better than him, will soften the defense and just as importantly, will not be ready to start next season as he would still be in rehab.

Not only will he be hurting the Yanks for the rest of this season but will be hurting them for next season as well. When healthy, Posada has a great bat, is an above average catcher with a good arm and has worked with third base coach Tony Pena on his foot work to help get the most from his throw and get a good quick transfer and release.

Not having a healthy Posada in the line-up hurts the Yankees, but having a non-healthy Posada may hurt even more.

Posada needs to think logically, put his pride aside and get the surgery as soon as possible.