The New York Yankees have placed outfielder Hideki Matsui on the disabled list.

Matsui has a sore left knee and is expected to undergo surgery to correct the problem.

He is expected to miss four to six weeks, possibly longer. The Yankees really can’t afford to be without any of their top players for any length of time given how competitive the American League East is this year from top to bottom.

Matsui had surgery on his right knee in the offseason, but his left knee has been bothering him for much of the year.

He is hitting .323 with seven home runs and 34 RBI’s in 69 games.