TAMPA — Without throwing a pitch in a Yankees uniform, Hiroki Kuroda has copped one of the four spots behind CC Sabathia in Joe Girardi’s rotation.
That leaves Michael Pineda, Phil Hughes, Freddy Garcia and Ivan Nova competing for the final three slots before they pitch in a spring training game.
“That’s what we are looking at,’’ Girardi said about Sabathia and Kuroda being definite rotation members. “You sign Kuroda to start and you sign all these guys to start. Kuroda has a big track history [starting].’’
The 37-year-old Kuroda, who signed a one-year deal for $10 million, has appeared in 386 games and started 358, including his time in Japan.
So, too, does the 35-year-old Garcia — 327 of his 329 big league games were starts. He signed a one-year deal for $4 million after going 12-8 with a 3.62 ERA in 26 games (25 starts).
Nova throws his 16-win rookie season last year in the ring. Pineda cost stud hitting prospect Jesus Montero, and Hughes won 18 games two seasons ago before a brutal 2011.
Yet, before any of them throw an exhibition-season pitch, a spot has been removed.
“We have a competition here. We have to iron out five spots. Sometimes the five that you leave with aren’t the five you end up with,’’ said Girardi, who refused to say Sabathia and Kuroda are his No. 1 and 2 starters, although Sabathia clearly is the ace of a staff with question marks for the second straight season. “We got time and there is no rush.’’
After naming Kuroda a starter, Girardi said to be fair he had to include all of the other four.
“I think that’s the only fair way to do it,’’ Girardi said. “In our division and the way baseball is designed, one game in the record column is a big thing. You are going to go with what you feel is your five best.’’
Due to his mid-90s fastball, a biting slider and who was dealt to get him, the 23-year-old Pineda quickly was viewed as a top-of-the-rotation starter. General manager Brian Cashman said reports that the second-year right-hander could open the season as the Yankees’ No. 2 starter were premature.
Now, Girardi says the 6-foot-7, 280-pounder, who is working on adding a change-up as a third pitch, isn’t a lock for the rotation. Could he be left out and start the season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre?
“He has to pitch. He has to stay healthy and he has to pitch,’’ Girardi said of Pineda, who was 9-10 with a 3.74 ERA in 28 starts for the Mariners but won just twice after June 17 and reported to camp 10 pounds heavier than at the end of last season. “I am a big believer that nothing is given to you in life. There are no guarantees. You still have to do your work and do your job. We are just not handing things over.’’
Barring an injury, Girardi is going to have put somebody in the bullpen — Hughes, who has 49 relief appearances, and Garcia are the favorites — or send a pitcher to SWB.
“I am not trying to cause a stir,’’ Girardi said. “I am making sure that when we leave spring training we are taking the five best. And to be fair, there are no guarantees.’’
Girardi recalled Don Zimmer offering advice and is reminded of it every day.
“Don’t guarantee spots in spring training,’’ Zimmer told Girardi.
Zimmer spoke from experience, because as the Cubs manager he told a pitcher he made the team in the middle of camp then sent him out. The pitcher? Mike Harkey, who is Girardi’s bullpen coach.
george.king@nypost.com