Jorge Posada Getting Ready for Season, Not WBC

After missing most of last season Jorge Posada is coming along and should be ready to go by opening day, but he won’t be playing in the World Baseball Classic.

Last week ESPN Deportes reported Posada’s father said his son would play for team Puerto Rico as their DH. The Yankees GM Brian Cashman has other plans for the 37-year-old catcher and they don’t include anything but Tampa.

“We support the event,” Cashman said of the WBC. “I’m sure (Posada) wants to play and if he could, he would. But, just like last season for us, he wasn’t able to play because of an injury.”

Cashman also said that he doesn’t expect Posada to be 100 percent by the start of spring training.

“He wouldn’t be able to perform,” Cashman said. “He won’t start on time as a catcher in spring training. It’s just a fact. There’s nothing I can do about it or the player can do about it. We’re hoping to have Jorge by Opening Day, but he will not be the opening spring training catcher, I can tell you that.

“He’s going to come in with restrictions and we’ll bring him along slowly.”

So while he continues his throwing program and works with the new pitchers on their dry sides he will likely appear in games as the DH. This should give top prospects Jesus Montero and Austin Romine, who were invited to spring training, time to show themselves off.

The Daily News reported Posada should be ready by spring training as he has been rehabbing since Dec. 8 with no setbacks, but they include a not so inspiring quote from Cashman as well.

“That’s what everybody says when you go through these things, that the player will be ready by Opening Day,” Cashman said. “We’ve never really had to rehab a catcher before.”

Posada ended his season last year on July 19 after playing a few months while injured as the DH. In 51 games he hit .268/.364/.411. He is in the second year of a four-year deal.