Injury report: Posada back; Melky available

The injured Yankees are on the mend, and the team could soon be back at full strength. Let’s just jump in and cover the news.

Jorge Posada
The Yanks’ 37-year-old catcher has been on the shelf since suffering a hamstring strain on May 4. He will be activated today from the DL. With Hideki Matsui on the brink of one of his hot streaks, Posada should find himself behind the plate tonight. Sweeney Murti reports via Twitter that tonight will be the first time since June 22, 2008 that A-Rod, Posada and Matsui will all be in the same lineup.

The Yanks will have a roster decision to make tonight, and despite Posada’s age and fairly quick 25-day recovery period, they seem intent on switching out a catcher. Francisco Cervelli will probably be optioned down for regular playing time. If the team decides to stick with three catchers, Angel Berroa will probably find himself unemployed. We’ll post word of the corresponding move when it comes down or in the game thread.

Melky Cabrera
Various sources are reporting divergent news on Melky. The Bryan Hoch article linked in the Posada section claims that Melky will be out 5-7 days, per Joe Girardi. A slightly more recent Marc Carig report says that Melky will be available off the bench this weekend. I find this odd. If Melky is available off the bench to pinch hit for, say, Brett Gardner or even Nick Swisher, is he able to man the outfield with a sore non-throwing shoulder? If not, he wouldn’t really come off the bench because the Yanks’ only other outfield option would be Hideki Matsui and his balky knees or perhaps Ramiro Pena. That has potential disaster written all over it, and I’d rather see the Yanks give Melky the proper time to heal.

Xavier Nady
According to the Associated Press, Xavier Nady is well on his way toward a mid-June Bronx return. As Joe noted last night, Nady went 2-for-5 in an Extended Spring Training game with one longball. More promising, though, is the news that he is set to begin a throwing program on Monday. If Nady can be a viable option in the outfield soon, Swisher’s playing time will diminish.

Everyone Else
Jose Molina and Damaso Marte are in Tampa working out. No word on when to expect them back…Cody Ransom hit in Extended Spring Training. He is not eligible to be activated from the 60-day DL until late June…Brian Bruney should begin a throwing program this weekend or early next week. After his aborted comeback last week, the Yankees are going to take it slow with him. I would be surprised to see him back before the All-Star Break.