TAMPA — The Yankees’ first full-squad workout isn’t until tomorrow, but it’s clear Phil Hughes will have more eyes on him than the five names in the mix for the four vacant spots in the starting rotation.
CC Sabathia is the ace. Ivan Nova won 16 games as a rookie last year. Jesus Montero was sacrificed for Michael Pineda and his 97-mph fastball that wasn’t thrown out of the bullpen in 28 games in his 2011 rookie season.
Hiroki Kuroda received $10 million to start. Including Japan, the right-hander has worked 386 games and started 358. Freddy Garcia has made 329 big league appearances and worked in relief twice. Nova has four relief outings in 38 big league games.
On the surface, it appears 25-year-old Hughes is headed for the bullpen if the Yankees starters make it through March healthy.
Yet manager Joe Girardi and general manager Brian Cashman view Hughes as a starter even though his 49 relief appearances across five big league seasons is considerably more than anyone else competing for a rotation spot.
“We are trying to figure out what we got,’’ Girardi said of Hughes, who was hindered by a velocity-killing shoulder injury last season when he was 5-5 with a 5.79 ERA in 17 games (14 starts) a year after winning 18 games and being an All Star. “We have expectations of what we are going to get.’’
Hughes will be watched closely for signs that his velocity has returned after hovering around 90-mph a year ago before being put on the disabled list.
“We need to see the fastball, the location of it and the sharpness of his curveball, the command of his cutter and continued improvement on his change-up’’ Girardi said. “He needs to locate and get back to putting people away.”
Actually, there are three ways the Yankees can go with Hughes. He can start, relieve or be sent to Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre to start.
“There are a lot of different things we can do with him,’’ Girardi said. “He has had success in the bullpen, but we will do what is best for him and us.’’
Position players report today.
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Eric Chavez said if the Yankees didn’t want him he was going to retire.
“If it wasn’t going to happen here I was going to say no to the other options,’’ said Chavez, who signed a one-year contract for $900,000 to back up at first and third base. “This is the place I wanted to be.’’
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Back-up catching candidate Austin Romine developed a cranky back yesterday.
“His back is a little sore. He caught and we held him out a little bit [Thursday] and will probably hold him out a little bit [today],’’ Girardi said. “Besides that we are OK.’’
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Mariano Rivera expects to throw off a mound for the first time Sunday. Yesterday he continued to build arm strength by long tossing with David Wells.
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Joba Chamberlain will throw one more bullpen session off a half mound today and then off a full mound Tuesday.