YANK NOTES

According to multiple industry sources the Yankees are looking to add a right-handed bat to their club by midnight tonight. And with Scott Brosius out at least another two weeks, Randy Velarde’s name surfaced yesterday.

In order for a player to be eligible for the postseason, he has to be with that team before Sept. 1.

Velarde, whom Rangers GM Doug Melvin said he didn’t want to trade in early August when Brosius fractured his left hand, would be a perfect fit with the Yankees. He played for them from 1988-95.

There are strong indications that for the right deal, Melvin will part with the 38-year-old Velarde, who can play every infield position.

Velarde is making $3.15 million this year and there is a club option for $2.5 million next year or a $250,000 buyout.

Royals third baseman Joe Randa has cleared waivers and can be dealt but he doesn’t offer Velarde’s versatility. Other names that have surfaced are Robin Ventura and lefty C. J. Nitkowski but neither are the bat the Yankees want.

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One day after missing a game to be with his son who underwent nine hours of surgery Wednesday at a Manhattan hospital, Jorge Posada returned to work confident things went well.

“He will be home at the latest Sunday,” Posada said of his son who underwent surgery on his skull and face as a follow up to last summer’s surgery to correct a condition known as craniosynostosis. While this surgery was more cosmetic, any time a skull is opened, it’s serious.”

Posada will join the Yankees in time for tonight’s game at Fenway.

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Even though Shane Spencer was hitless in his last nine at-bats, Joe Torre said using David Justice in left yesterday and Nick Johnson as the DH wasn’t related to anything Spencer didn’t do.

“It’s basically to get Nick Johnson a game,” said Torre, who didn’t want Johnson sitting for three games going into Boston.

Yankees’ entry in the Gulf Coast (Rookie) League won the championship yesterday when they beat the Dodgers, 5-2.