NEW YORK -- Jorge Posada wants to help the New York Yankees win this year, and be ready for the start of next season.
He may have to choose between the two.
Posada went on the 15-day disabled list for the second time this season Monday, and the veteran catcher could be headed for season-ending surgery on his injured throwing shoulder.
"It's just really, really tough," Posada said before New York's 12-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins. "Right now, I'm going through tough times."
Posada was scheduled to see New York Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek on Tuesday to have an MRI and his shoulder examined. He missed more than a month earlier this season with right rotator cuff tendinitis.
Acknowledging there's more damage in the shoulder beyond a torn labrum, Posada could miss the start of next season if he puts off the necessary surgery.
"That's the biggest thing," he said. "I don't want to miss two years. I'm already flustered with this one because I haven't been 100 percent and I've been trying to play through a lot of pain."
Posada hasn't played since he left New York's 4-3, 12-inning win over Oakland on Saturday before the 10th, and said the shoulder has been bothering him since spring training. He said it's also affecting him at the plate but insisted he could fight through it if all he can do is serve as a designated hitter/first baseman for the rest of the season.
"I think there's some frustration from Jorge's standpoint that his arm didn't bounce back the way he wanted it to," manager Joe Girardi said. "We just felt that maybe he can't come back as a catcher right away but we still believe that Jorge can be productive, and maybe the rest will help him feel a little bit better."
Also, Johnny Damon was activated from the disabled list and went 1-for-4 serving as the designated hitter in New York's victory over the Twins. Damon injured his left shoulder when he ran into the fence attempting to catch a ball on July 4.
Damon is still testing his arm and might not be able to play in the outfield for a few days.
"I haven't tried throwing the ball hard, which I probably haven't thrown the ball hard in my career," Damon cracked. "But it was definitely better today and hopefully I can be out in the field within a week, or around a week from now."
Hideki Matsui, another injured outfielder/designated hitter, was examined again Monday and decided against surgery on his balky left knee. He's going to try more rehab, but also could miss the rest of the year if his knee flares up on him again.
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