Schwarber still wants to catch

Giants’ Posey knows what Cubs slugger faces in return.

While the Cubs’ Kyle Schwarber maintains his desire to catch, Giants AllStar catcher Buster Posey offered a cautionary tale about returning to the position after suffering a serious leg injury.

“I always told people it took me a solid two years before I felt back to some sense of normalcy,” Posey said last month in Los Angeles, where he filmed a series of commercials with Schwarber.

“For the year or two after my ankle injury, there was maintenance after every game and spring training workout, whatever it may be. I’m feeling pretty good (now) and can back off it a little bit.”

Schwarber is targeted to play left field for the Cubs but continues to push his case to catch despite missing nearly all of last season because of two torn ligaments in his left knee. In late May of 2011, Posey suffered a fracture and torn ligaments in his left ankle that sidelined him for the rest of the season.

Posey said he benefited from a maintenance program that trainer Dave Groeschner established and that helped him catch 114 games in 2012 while receiving an occasional break at first base.

He won National League Most Valuable Player honors that year and led the Giants to a World Series title.

“We had two different injuries, but it’s important to build up strength,” Posey said. “But if my ankle felt cranky, moving over to first base helped.”

Willson Contreras is expected to handle most of the catching duties for the Cubs.

Who is on second

With Brandon Phillips traded to the Braves, the Reds opened a spot for 22-year-old Jose Peraza to become an everyday player.

Manager Bryan Price said Peraza would be the second baseman unless he struggles. Peraza was one of the Reds’ most impressive young players last season, batting .324 in 72 games with three homers and 25 RBIs.

“From Peraza’s body of work, he’s a regular,” Price said as the Reds opened camp. “He’d have to play his way off the position.”

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Guest instructors

Alex Rodriguez and Nick Swisher are joining the group of guest instructors at New York Yankees’ spring training this year.

A-Rod and Swisher were both instructors with the Yankees’ instructional league team last fall. This is the first time they’ll be in the coaching role at spring training.

The pair joins holdovers that include Goose Gossage, Reggie Jackson, Hideki Matsui, Ron Guidry, Willie Randolph, Stump Merrill and Lee Mazzilli.

ELSA / GETTY IMAGES Kyle Schwarber is expected to play left field for the Cubs, but he keeps pushing to catch despite a serious knee injury early last season.