Matsui and Damon suffer setbacks

It appears that it might be awhile before we see the Yankee lineup back to full strength:

Matsui did not hit Tuesday after experiencing additional discomfort in his sore left knee. The Yankees had hoped he might be ready to return when eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list on Friday.

"Perhaps you can say so, it's a short-term setback," Matsui said through a translator at the Yankees' minor league complex. "I'm going to hit tomorrow, that's the plan anyway."

Damon, eligible to be activated from the DL on Sunday, continues to have soreness in his injured left shoulder, and won't likely start hitting off a tee until at least late this week. He underwent treatment only on Tuesday.

"It feels a little better today," Damon said. "It still feels horrible waking up. I'm still kind of down because I know [Yankees manager Joe] Girardi wants to put me in the lineup on Sunday and I'm not sure we can do that."

There is no date for when Matsui might start a running program, a key step before playing in minor league rehab games.

Should Matsui's knee not respond, surgery could be an option. His goal remains avoiding surgery and returning to the team.

"At this point right now, it's hard to say," Matsui said. "You try, believing that you're going to be able to go back this season. If it comes to the point where I have to decide surgery, then that's that."

I don't believe the Yanks are going to make a big splash at the trade deadline, so it appears for now that the offense will have to make due with Melky, Gardner, and Justin Christian in the outfield.

But don't be surprised if the Yanks nab Richie Sexson within the next few days.