TORONTO — If his left hamstring and right calf allow it, Alex Rodriguez will remain the Yankees’ designated hitter, but don’t look for his legs to allow him to play third base.
“At this point I am just trying to get into the lineup,” Rodriguez said after going hitless in four at-bats Tuesday night in a 2-0 loss to the Blue Jays.
Before the Yankees’ fourth straight defeat, manager Joe Girardi said he wasn’t confident Rodriguez would return to third.
“Maybe he gets through a few days and he feels better but right now I’m not really looking at him in the field,” Girardi said. “I feel if he can play he can be productive. I don’t know how much we’ll get out of him in the field the rest of the season but if he feels he can swing the bat, he can be productive.”
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It wasn’t until a CT-scan taken Monday of Boone Logan’s left elbow that the reliever knew why his arm hasn’t felt right since spring training.
“I have bone spur in the back of the elbow,” Logan said. “It’s been going on for a while. Dr. [James] Andrews didn’t see anything on the MRI [exam], and he took a CT-scan and it showed as clear as day.”
Logan will wait until the season is over before having a surgical procedure done to correct the situation. He left the team in Boston on Sunday to see Andrews in Pensacola, Fla.
Logan, who hasn’t pitched since Sept. 6 with what was diagnosed as inflammation, played catch and long-tossed Tuesday. He will throw a bullpen session Wednesday and said he hopes to be available on Friday night at home when the Yankees start a three-game series against the Giants.
With Logan gone, Girardi’s late-game options from the left side were neophyte Cesar Cabral and journeyman Mike Zagurski.
“I am not too worried about it,” said Logan, who as a free agent following the season was in line for a possible three-year deal in the area of $12 million to $15 million. The spur problem might drag the price down. “I am just trying to help this team make the playoffs and worry about this later. Being a free agent is the only thing that bothers me.”
Logan, who is 5-2 with a 3.26 ERA in 60 games, said he was relieved to know the root of the problem.
“I am tired of feeling like this,” Logan said.
Girardi said if Logan is OK after the bullpen session, he should be available Friday.
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Brendan Ryan started his sixth straight game at short against a team that wanted to trade for him early this season.
When Jose Reyes went down with a sprained ankle, the Blue Jays tried to deal for Ryan but the Mariners’ price tag was astronomical for the slick-fielding, light-hitting Ryan. The Yankees acquired Ryan on Sept. 10 for a player to be named.
Ryan went 0-for-3 Tuesday, but made a strong relay throw to cut down Adam Lind at the plate to end the eighth.
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Girardi had Austin Romine in the initial lineup catching Andy Pettitte, but switched to Chris Stewart when Romine told the manager and medical staff he didn’t feel fully comfortable to play after suffering a concussion Sept. 10 when he took a foul tip off his mask in Baltimore.
“I am still a little bit off,” said Romine, who took early batting practice and participated in ball blocking drills. “A little off but today was a good day.”
When Girardi hit Vernon Wells for Stewart in the eighth he inserted J.R. Murphy behind the plate.
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The Yankees are 1-3 in their last four games against the Blue Jays after winning 12 of their first 13.