Jorge Posada's Sore Shoulder Cause for Serious Concern

During a game against the Twins this weekend, Jorge Posada was scratched just one hour before the game was set to begin because of soreness in his shoulder.

When the Yankees discussed the soreness they tried to downplay it like it was 2008. They insisted that this was just a minor setback and that if it were a season game he would have been in there.

“I am not concerned at all,” Posada said. “I did something I wasn’t supposed to do and it’s sore.

“I felt something but I played [Friday] and could have played [yesterday]. It doesn’t hurt me to throw or hit, but it is a little sore.”

“I am not concerned at all. He scratched me, and I wanted to play,” Posada said. “I don’t feel it all. It’s Feb. 28.”

Posada insists he isn’t worried, but he may be the only one. There is a literally a lot riding on his shoulder this season. He makes a big difference in the lineup because without him they are forced to use Jose Molina too often.

While Molina is a very solid backup catcher, he is atrocious with the bat. He’s nearly an automatic out and even if he does reach base is probably the slowest Yankee in years.

There isn’t much hope after Molina. Even though the Yankees have two great catching prospects in Jesus Montero and Austin Romine they are a few years away. The only other catchers they can call up are more like Molina and more known for their catching abilities than anything they can do with the bat.

They might have the pieces to trade for a catcher though. Minor league first baseman Juan Miranda is blocked by Mark Teixeira and would be a pretty decent trade chip. They can also afford to include Ian Kennedy or Alfredo Aceves in any deal as well as some decent relief arms.

If they got bold they might also package Nick Swisher or Xavier Nady in a deal.

They are likely to avoid making a deal this early in the year, but that could come back to bite them. The Yankees offense was ranked just seventh in the AL last season and even with the addition of Teixeira the departures of Jason Giambi and Bobby Abreu are going to hurt.

The team expected a full year of Posada to pick up some of the slack.