NEW YORK — Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez was the steady hand for the Florida Marlins when they won the 2003 World Series. A year later, he was the spark that helped turn around the Detroit franchise when nobody wanted to be a Tiger.

The New York Yankees hope he can be a little of both during their push for the playoffs.

The Yankees acquired the 14-time All-Star catcher from the Tigers yesterday for reliever Kyle Farnsworth, a trade that filled glaring holes for both contenders.

"Honestly, I was shocked by this, but that's baseball," Rodriguez said. "Now, I'm just looking forward to playing for the Yankees and maybe I will play against Detroit again in the playoffs."

In the option year of a $50 million deal he signed with the Tigers in February 2004, Rodriguez will try to fill the void in the Yankees' lineup created by catcher Jorge Posada's shoulder injury. Posada had arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder yesterday and is out for the season.

The 36-year-old Rodriguez, who has 13 Gold Glove awards, was hitting .295 with five homers in 82 games this season.

Rodriguez has caught 2,142 games, trailing only Carlton Fisk (2,226) and Bob Boone (2,225) in terms of longevity behind the plate.

"He's still an everyday guy," Yankees manager Brian Cashman said. "He's an upgrade in spite of everything we've got."

Farnsworth was 1-2 with a 3.65 ERA in 45 games, and joins a bullpen badly in need of reinforcements three days after veteran Todd Jones was removed from the closer role in Detroit.

The Tigers purchased the contract of catcher Dane Sardinha (Kamehameha alum) from Triple-A Toledo.

Later in the day, the Yankees traded reliever LaTroy Hawkins to Houston for Class-A infielder Matt Cusick. New York designated Hawkins for assignment Saturday after acquiring Xavier Nady and Andy Marte.

BRAVES

BAD NEWS FOR HUDSON

Tim Hudson is likely headed for surgery after two doctors found the Atlanta Braves ace has major ligament damage in his pitching elbow.

Hudson was examined by Dr. Xavier Duralde, the team's lead orthopedist, and then met yesterday with Dr. James Andrews of Birmingham, Ala.

"Both concur that surgery is likely," Braves spokesman Brad Hainje said after a 7-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. "But he's going to take a short rehabilitation period before he makes a final decision."

CUBS

WOOD'S RETURN DELAYED

Chicago Cubs closer Kerry Wood had another setback yesterday when the blister on his right index finger prevented him from throwing a simulated game.

The All-Star hurler was scheduled to throw a simulated game before Chicago took on the Milwaukee Brewers in the third game of a four-game series.

Wood was eligible to return from the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday, but the right-hander hasn't recovered from the blister that's kept him out since July 11.

MARLINS

INTERESTED IN RAMIREZ

A deal that would send Manny Ramirez to Florida may be a long shot, but Marlins president David Samson didn't rule it out yesterday, less than 24 hours before the trade deadline.

On his weekly radio show, Samson addressed reports the Marlins are discussing a trade to acquire Ramirez from the Boston Red Sox.

"The Marlins always seem to be in the middle of everything," Samson said on WAXY-AM. "It takes two to tango. We're looking everywhere. We're making calls. We're getting calls. But we're not going to be stupid."