MLB

Joba wouldn’t pitch fit over shift to Yankees’ relief

Joba the starter is open to becoming Joba the reliever, especially if the Yankees want to groom him as Mariano Rivera’s heir apparent.

Speaking to reporters last night before the annual Thurman Munson awards dinner in Manhattan, Joba Chamberlain reiterated comments he made to The Post on Saturday, when he said he considers himself a starter — but said he also realizes the Yankees have final say in the matter.

“Being down [in the bullpen] for two stints, you get to see how good [Rivera] is, and you know there is going to have to be somebody who comes behind him that replaces the legacy that is Mariano,” Chamberlain said. “If that opportunity comes, great. If we sit down and they say that, then we’ll get after it.”

But even as the Yankees appear intent on shifting Chamberlain back to a set-up role, the right-hander said his total focus is on starting.

Chamberlain plans to report to Tampa for spring training on Monday, more than a week before pitchers and catchers are required to arrive.

“I made 31 starts last year, and hopefully I’ll make the same and get about 200 innings,” Chamberlain said. “As a competitor, you want to be out there every fifth day [starting]. I want that opportunity. I have to go out and prove it, and I understand that. I like it that way.”

Chamberlain spent last year in the rotation, but struggled late in the season as he faced a “Joba Rules” innings limit. The Yankees moved him to the bullpen during the postseason and were impressed with how he resembled the pitcher who burst on the scene as a reliever in 2007 and dominated hitters.

“The biggest difference is that, as a starter, you know you’re going to have to face a guy maybe three, four or five times,” Chamberlain said.

“In the bullpen, you’re only going to face him once, so you don’t really have to set him up. You don’t have to worry about, ‘OK, I got him out on a curveball in his first at-bat.’ That’s the biggest difference, the planning in the game of how you are going to get guys out.”

mpuma@nypost.com