Cleveland Indians designated hitter Travis Hafner was on the bench for the second straight game Tuesday night because of a sore right shoulder and could be headed for the disabled list.

"I'm really trying to take it day-by-day, but if it's something that lingers on we're going to have to think about putting him on the DL," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "I don't want to jump right into that yet."

Wedge said Hafner, mired in a season-long slump, won't play this afternoon against Chicago. The Indians are off on Thursday.

"We'll take a real good look at this on Friday," Wedge said. "I don't think it's anything too serious, but if this drags on, obviously, we're going to have to consider (disabling him)."

Prior to Monday night's game, Wedge said Hafner was getting a day off as a mental break. When Hafner wasn't used to pinch-hit in the Indians' 12-inning loss, Wedge said he was unavailable because his shoulder was bothering him.

Hafner has struggled all season, a major reason why the Indians are one of the worst offensive teams in baseball. He's batting .217 with four homers and 22 RBIs in 46 games. He's in a 10-for-42 slump in his last 15 games and is hitting .189 (20 for 106) with two homers and 12 RBIs in his last 33 games.

Sheffield goes on DL: The Detroit Tigers placed Gary Sheffield on the 15-day disabled list with an oblique strain on his left side.

Sheffield, who started Monday night's game as the designated hitter, was injured running out a grounder to shortstop in the third inning. He slowed up halfway down the line, grabbing his side, and was replaced by a pinch-hitter the next time he was due to bat in the sixth.

This is the 12th time on the DL for the 20-year veteran and nine-time All-Star, who is hitting just .213 with three homers and 12 RBI in 39 games. It's his second trip to the DL since the Tigers obtained him from the New York Yankees in November 2006. Last season he was hampered for most of the final 10 weeks of the campaign with a sore right shoulder, an injury that shelved him for two weeks.

The Tigers recalled first baseman Jeff Larish from Triple-A Toledo to take Sheffield's place on the roster.

Posada will throw in game Thursday: New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada is set to take a big step in his rehabilitation program for a sore right shoulder Thursday when he is scheduled to resume throwing to the bases in an extended spring training game.

The five-time All-Star has been sidelined since April 27. Posada hopes to rejoin the Yankees around June 3.

Yankees sign Broussard: The Yankees signed veteran first baseman Ben Broussard to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Scranton.

The 31-year-old Broussard hit .159 with three homers and eight RBIs with Texas this season before he was designated for assignment May 8.