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By Sean Connolly

As a Ranger, Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez torched the Yankees, now he has become one. With the news that Jorge Posada will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery, the Yankees didn’t hesitate to make one of the biggest trades of the season and landing Rodriguez.

Ivan Pudge Rodriguez will be behind the plate for the New York Yankees coming down the stretch

In the deal the Yankees gave away the the uncontrollable talent of Kyle Farnsworth who drives fans and coaches of the Yankees awol whenever he pitches. The loss of Farnsworth means that the Yankees bullpen, which has been surprisingly good this season, will have a bit of a hole. But, that hole pales in comparison to the hole that Posada has left this season.

Farnsworth is Detroit's Problem Now

Posada who we won’t see until next season was having his worst year yet behind the plate and at the plate where he struggled to throw out runners and failed to drive in runners. He tried to overcome the injury by playing DH and first but season ending surgery was imminent. The Yankees’ Brian Cashman and company quickly made a deal that may solve the Yankees biggest problem. Pudge is hitting .295 and has 5 home runs to go with the gun he sports behind the plate. Posada couldn’t throw out runners if they walked to second base this season and Pudge is sure to slow down runners on the base pads. Pudge has a career average of .302 and has always shown a great deal of power for a catcher. He is an all-around athlete doing it with the bat, glove, and actually has some speed for a catcher. He has earned 13 Gold Glove awards and was named AL MVP in 1999.

Pudge brings a fire the Yankees need

The Yankees so far have made all the right moves in the past two weeks filling in the holes in their team. They acquired a powerful bat in Richie Sexson, added the versatile Xavier Nady, and now add one of the greatest catchers of all time in Ivan Rodriguez. With rumors that the first place Rays may make a deal for Jason Bay, the Yankees have already kept pace by landing Rodriguez’s bat. Overall, an intelligent couple of weeks for the Yankees, something we haven’t seen for a while.

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