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Yankees Expect Injured Derek Jeter To Be Ready To Go By Opening Day

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - The Yankees announced on Wednesday that Derek Jeter will have surgery on his broken left ankle, and is expected to need four to five months to completely recover.

Though that is unquestionably alarming to Yankees nation, the front office expects the captain to be ready by Opening Day 2013.

The iconic shortstop broke his ankle fielding a grounder in the 12th inning of Game 1 of the American League Championship Series. He's scheduled to undergo the operation -- which will be performed by Dr. Robert Anderson -- in Charlotte on October 20.

"He'll be ready when he's ready," general manager Brian Cashman said on Wednesday before Game 4 against Detroit was rained out. "I believe that Dr. Anderson just put in a more conservative time frame on it, as explained to me. So there's no new information -- nothing seen worse than what our team doctor saw. But in terms of the time frame, I just think (he) wanted to be more conservative with it, so that's what we're going to go with.

"My understanding is that it's possible he will be ready earlier than that time frame, but it is best to at least put out there four, five months as a safer bet."

Manager Joe Girardi is confident that his future Hall of Famer will be ready to go when next season gets under way.

"I am," the skipper said in regard to whether he feels optimistic that the 13-time All-Star will be in the lineup against Boston on Opening Day. "Some guys are going to heal quicker than others. We really just don't know. Guys can start baseball activities before they're fully healed. When you say fully healed, you anticipate a game."

Cashman said that he hasn't considered adding a shortstop in the offseason as a precautionary measure should Jeter suffer a setback. The general manager expressed confidence in his in-house alternatives.

"I haven't looked at that at this stage," Cashman said. "We do have Eduardo Nunez. We have Jayson Nix. So it's not something we focused on, and I wouldn't think that that's something I would gravitate to."

The five-time World Series champion had another stellar season for the Bronx Bombers in 2012, batting .316 with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs.

The 38-year-old, renowned for his brilliance in postseason play, was 9-for-27 with a double, a triple, four runs scored and two RBIs in the playoffs before the injury ended his season.

At least there is some good news at the moment in Yankees land. Sound off with your thoughts and comments below...

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