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Since he became the full-time starter in 2000, Jorge Posada has been one of the many rocks in the Yankee lineup. His Yankee career has generated 219 home runs and 872 RBI's to go along with a .277 average. His current manager Joe Girardi shared the Yankee catching duties for much of 1998 and 1999 seasons, and Girardi is generally credited for being a "team first guy," grooming the younger Posada to eventually take over in 2000.

It must then have been difficult yesterday for both Girardi and Posada to discuss Posada's current shoulder injury, one that landed Posada to the disabled list (DL), the first time during Posada's career he has been on the DL.

It has been written that Posada's shoulder injury is a "strain" and a "dead arm." A recent MRI, supposedly already seen by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, AL has shown a partial tear in the subscapularis muscle, one of the four rotator cuff muscles and the only one found in the front of the shoulder.

Make no mistake Yankee fans - Posada has a torn rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder and will not catch at all the balance of the 2008 season.

Rotator cuff injuries are categorized as either a partial (less than 50% torn) or full tear (more than 50% torn). A full tear is obviously worse and requires a complete repair of the area and extensive rehab - usually 12-18 months before the player can return to full form. A partial tear, however, can be helped through extensive rest (usually three to six months), but also can be corrected with surgery which requires an 8 month to a full year rehab. Partial tears require a "cleaning up" of the area and not a full repair. Although Posada already rested his shoulder this season, the two weeks of rest was not nearly enough time to help.

A perfect example of the same injury without surgery was with Pedro Martinez in 2001 who was diagnosed with a partial tear to his rotator cuff, same injury as Posada. That year saw Pedro go 7-3 in 18 starts, but he suffered through most of the season with that sore shoulder. Pedro tried to return in August and September of 2001 but was eventually shut down. Martinez elected not to have surgery but instead rested for a full 6 months without touching a baseball. He responded in 2002 by going 20-4 in 30 starts with a 2.26 ERA. He was treated gently by the Red Sox, having mostly 5 days between starts, but did throw 126 pitches in an August 28th start against the Yankees. He finished second in the CY Young voting that year to the Oakland A's Barry Zito. And the way Barry Zito has pitched this season; I would not be surprised if he had a similar injury to Jorge.

Do the Yankees have Posada go the Pedro route, one with full rest and hope that the shoulder responds or have him get surgery and be out for all of this season and most of next year, too? That depends on the severity of the tear - but from what I read (and for the sake of our argument) let's assume it is a partial tear.

This partial tear does not affect his ability to hit - and there lies the problem.

Posada can hit without pain and is definitely needed in a current Yankee lineup that has performed below expectations. He would need to strictly be a DH - not even to be used as an emergency catcher and probably not even as a first baseman. But, the Yankees have too many one-dimensional DH types like Jason Giambi, Shelley Duncan and even Hideki Matsui, who is basically the full time DH. Matsui has played outfield only 3 times in the last 10 games, basically to give the aging legs of Damon a break and to allow Posada to get into the lineup.

How much does the Yankee fan value Posada's bat? Based upon last season and the fact that Posada is a clubhouse force, his bat is tremendously valued - especially if it keeps him around the clubhouse on an everyday basis. He is one of the top leaders on this team. All the younger players look up to Posada, one of four current Yankees to be part of all four Yankee World Series titles under Joe Torre. Also, Posada just signed that $52 million contract.

Therefore, do we value Posada's bat over another bat currently in the Yankee lineup - say Jason Giambi's? Giambi is owed $21 million this season, mired at .167 overall, but is 6 for 17 with 3 homers in his last six games.

The problem for the Yankees is that there is too much guaranteed money to aging, slower players. If Posada's bat is needed (and I believe it is) then we have to eliminate someone.

Jason Giambi needs to go.

While Giambi's recent hot streak has people thinking he is back, he is still the same all or nothing slugger who really will not be consistent over the entire season. Matsui has relished the DH spot, hitting .321/4/11 with a .956 OPS. Duncan is younger, a fan favorite, and is not much different defensively than Giambi - although this season Giambi has looked better in the field than in the past. Plus, the recently acquired Morgan Ensberg can fill in at first base as can Johnny Damon in a pinch.

The presence of Jorge Posada in the clubhouse as an active player is too valuable to pass up for this season. If the tear in his shoulder is not severe, then allowing Posada to DH will keep him from throwing, and will keep his bat in the lineup, thereby keeping the Yankee lineup very deep.

Besides an acceptable full-time first baseman, Giambi would not be missed by the Yankees. The feeling here is that with regular playing time, Duncan can achieve really good offensive numbers. Either way, they would not be worse than what Giambi has produced thus far. If defense becomes a problem at first base, then the Yanks could trade for Doug Mientkiewicz again, but the feeling here is that the combo of Duncan and Ensberg will suffice...especially if Posada will be able to be in the lineup on most days.

The big questions for Cashman is whether you need Giambi's bat and suffer with eating Posada's $13.5 million salary this season, or have Posada's bat in the lineup (and his leadership in the clubhouse) and eat Giambi's $21 million. The Yankees will find a way to get Matsui and Damon enough at bats to keep them productive and a day off once a week for each guy will keep them healthy.

The Yankees need to cut Jason Giambi now and keep Posada in the lineup every day as the DH and keep his presence in the clubhouse.

Posada is that important.