The Southern California Trojans came to town Saturday, but that had been scheduled long in advance. The appearance of another U.S.C. man, Ian Kennedy, was far less certain. But there he was in the Yankees’ clubhouse, with a No. 38 jersey, back in the major leagues.

“It’s been a blessing just to be here,” said Kennedy, a former first-round pick who pitched well down the stretch in 2007. “To line something like this up, only God can do.”

Kennedy has reason to frame his ordeal in spiritual terms. While pitching for Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in April, he was diagnosed with a vasospasm in his right middle ringer. A follow-up magnetic resonance imaging test showed an aneurysm near his right shoulder, which was surgically removed May 12.

“When it happened, they assured me it was not career threatening,” Kennedy said. “I’d rather have this than have a shoulder problem or Tommy John surgery. But when I first heard ‘aneurysm,’ I was kind of scared.”

Kennedy said his doctor told him not to worry about a recurrence. The operation – “he sewed my vein into my artery,” Kennedy said – had been a success. David Cone, who had aneurysm surgery in 1996 and returned to the Yankees late that season, assured Kennedy he could feel normal again on the mound.

When he started throwing, though, Kennedy said he “didn’t have any feel at all” for pitching. But it came back after a week, just as Cone had promised, and on Sept. 12 he started for Class A Tampa in the Florida State League playoffs, tossing two scoreless innings. Four days later, he threw three perfect innings for Scranton, with nine strikeouts.

Hey, at his worst, Alfred E. Kennedy was just as “good” as Sergio Mitre…so, why not use him over the final few weeks…if there’s a chance to do it?

Reliever Damaso Marte, out since April with an injured left shoulder, is expected to rejoin the Yankees bullpen tonight for the series opener with the Red Sox.

It’s possible the Yankees could go with 13 pitchers and send down a position player, who then would be recalled when rosters expand Sept. 1.

Marte, who signed a three-year, $12 million deal this offseason, has pitched in seven games with a 15.19 ERA.

Kei Igawa wants to know if this means the Yankees are instituting a “No Lefty Left Behind” program…

Gaudin, 26, is a little righty who has been around. Before joining the Yankees, he’s pitched in the majors for the Rays, Blue Jays, A’s, Cubs, and Padres. He’s much more effective against RH-batters than LH-batters, to date, in his career – as the latter have fashioned a .388 OBA against him.

In his last 11 starts this season for the Padres, Gaudin has gone 2-6 with an ERA of 5.22 in 58.2 innings pitched.

You can probably expect the same from him when he pitches for the Yankees this season.

Every time I hear “Anthony Clagget,” I think “Jed Clampett.” Why is that?

Now, if the Yankees can only trade for Scott Hairston, then we can start having flashbacks to 1973 when the Yankees had Felipe and Matty Alou…

New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada will come off the disabled list before Friday night’s game at Cleveland.

The All-Star played six innings Thursday in an extended spring training game, then said he was scheduled to fly to Cleveland to meet up with his team.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Posada will be activated but he did not yet have a corresponding roster move.

Posada has been sidelined since straining his right hamstring May 4. The Yankees open a four-game series with the Indians on Friday night.

“The hamstring is feeling good,” Posada said. “I’m happy with everything. The most important thing was just running, seeing some pitches and getting the timing down.”

Wow. This is four weeks faster than I thought.

Who goes to make room? Kevin Cash, Angel Berroa or Brett Tomko – with the latter being a long-shot. When you consider that Berroa has not faced a pitcher since May 4th, Cash might be safe for a little while longer…

Former Texas A&M pitcher Casey Fossum signed a minor-league deal with the New York Yankees on Saturday, then was the starting pitcher in the team’s Triple-A club that afternoon.

The 31-year-old left-hander pitched 3 2/3 innings in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s 5-1 victory over Norfolk. Fossum allowed two hits, one run, striking out four and walking two.

The New York Mets designated Fossum for assignment Sunday after clearing waivers, but he elected for free agency.

Fossum opened the season with Triple-A Buffalo, making two starts. The Mets called him up on April 19. He didn’t have a decision in three games, pitching four innings with a 2.25 earned run average.

Fossum has pitched in 237 major league games, 120 of them as a starter. He has a career record of 40-53 with a 5.45 ERA.

When I think of Casey Fossum, I think of two things:

1. The sound of his name, “Casey Fossum,” rings in my head with the sound of Michael Kay’s annoying usage of the words “flotsam and jetsam.” Say it to yourself a few times…Casey Fossum, flotsam and jetsam……Casey Fossum, flotsam and jetsam……Casey Fossum, flotsam and jetsam…see?

2. The fact that the Arizona Diamondbacks were stupid enough to trade Curt Schilling for this guy and a bunch of other bushers. And, that the Yankees could not manage to better of the offer of Fossum, Michael Goss, Brandon Lyon and Jorge de la Rosa for Curt Schilling.

With the starting pitchers struggling to get deeper into games, the Yankees called up reliever Anthony Claggett to bolster a bullpen that’s quickly become depleted. First baseman Juan Miranda, called up on Friday, was sent down.

I guess this Miranda has no rights. He gets one day in the Bronx and then has his ticket punched for the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Funicular the next morning…

In sending Wright packing, the Yankees picked up Eric Fryer.

Fryer is not a terrible prospect. It looks like he can hit a bit. And, if he can catch, maybe he’ll turn into a Jim Leyritz type?

The fact that the Yankees were able to get someone like Fryer for Wright tells you something about Wright. In most cases, when you DFA a player, like the Yanks did with Chase, you have zero leverage in trying to deal him. Getting a somewhat prospect like Fryer says there was a market for Wright…even as a DFA guy.

I hope Wright makes the Brewers this season and wins 20 games this year. To me, that would be cool – in so many ways.

Lefties like John Tudor, Jamie Moyer, Larry Gura and Bob Ojeda were late bloomers. Wright could be one too.