TAMPA — General manager Brian Cashman hasn’t been scouring the market for a first baseman since learning Sunday that Mark Teixeira’s wrist injury was different than what the team previously believed and surgery hasn’t been ruled out.
“The bottom line is it doesn’t change anything,” Cashman said. “The time frame hasn’t changed.”
PHOTOS: YANKEES SPRING TRAINING
The Yankees have been holding out hope rest and rehab will be enough to get Teixeira back in May, and that remains the case even with the new information Cashman received over the weekend.
Teixeira has roughly a 25-to-30 percent chance of needing season-ending surgery to fix the partially torn sheath of the tendon in his right wrist, but a decision on that won’t be made at least until May, when the eight-to-10 week window closes on his recovery time.
“If we knew he wouldn’t be back, it would be a different story,” the general manager said. “But for now, we’re going to play it out.”
It’s the same approach Cashman has had since Teixeira hurt himself getting ready for the WBC, an injury initially thought to be a strained tendon.
The lack of a move would mean Juan Rivera and Dan Johnson will continue to see time at first base, although Cashman will continue his search for other options at the position.
“Obviously, I’m still looking, not just at first base, but in different places,” said Cashman, who has attempted to upgrade the outfield by bringing in Brennan Boesch and Ben Francisco in the past week. “And if something presents itself, we won’t hesitate to pursue it.”
And Cashman hasn’t been inundated with phone calls from other teams or agents since Sunday.
“There’s no reason to do anything differently at this point,” he said. “It wouldn’t make any sense.”
Still, Teixeira’s loss is already being felt among his teammates.
“That’s our first baseman,” Mariano Rivera said. “We want him healthy. We want him ready. We’ll see what happens. Hopefully, he’s ready soon.”
* The Yankees return to action today with Adam Warren on the mound against the Phillies in Clearwater at 1:05 p.m.