MLB

Yankees not alarmed that Martin isn’t ready yet

TAMPA — The Yankees and Russell Martin are not concerned about the starting catcher not being ready to get behind the plate Saturday in the exhibition season opener against the Phillies.

Yet, eight days into camp, Martin explained his surgically repaired right knee hasn’t allowed him to block balls. Hence, he won’t play Saturday at George M. Steinbrenner Field. He had surgery on the knee Dec. 20 to repair a meniscus problem.

“It’s still a little stiff. It’s not 100 percent yet,” Martin said yesterday. “It’s not a setback. I will be ready for the regular season. They don’t want me to get ahead of myself and get set back.”

PROSPECTS COUNTDOWN

With Jorge Posada shifted to full-time DH, the 28-year-old Martin easily is the most experienced catcher in camp, and there is no need to play him before he is ready.

“I don’t think he is quite ready to go, and I am not going to rush him,” Girardi said. “I told him that I wanted to know when he was 100 percent because I don’t want a setback. If it was three or four days, that would be my hope. But if it takes more, it takes more.”

Even if Martin misses several early games, it’s not a big deal. But if the stiffness lingers and causes him to be out longer, his developing relationship with a new pitching staff will be hindered. He says he is OK because he has been catching bullpen sessions, but there is no substitute for game action.

After yesterday’s workout, Martin still hasn’t blocked balls, an exercise he has to perform comfortably before he gets into a game.

“As soon as I start blocking balls and going side to side, I can go into a game,” said Martin, whose 2010 season ended on Aug. 3 due to a hip injury. “This not the hip, it’s the knee. From the first day to today the progress has been good.”

The Yankees knew Martin required surgery when they signed him to a one-year, $4 million deal on Dec. 16 that has $400,000 in incentives for games played. He injured the knee working out before he signed.

They pointed to similar surgeries on knees belonging to CC Sabathia and Posada in October and November, respectively, and weren’t concerned.

Martin said the caution flag he is working under is to ensure when he starts to play, he continues to play.

“This is to make sure I will be ready. I want to be there from Day 1 all the way through,” Martin said.

GM Brian Cashman said Martin’s knee was “not a big deal.”

Even if it’s a brief absence, Martin not playing will give Girardi and his staff additional time to evaluate potential backups Francisco Cervelli, Jesus Montero and Austin Romine.

Montero, 21, is the most intriguing due to a powerful bat. Cervelli has more big league experience and Romine is a distant third in the derby, although someday he could be the best overall catcher.

Would Montero, whose defense is improving, be best served playing every day at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre instead of twice a week in the big leagues?

“I think the way you look at it is kind of two-fold,” Girardi said. “Is he ready to play up here, No. 1. And No. 2, can he help you win games. If those two things line up, there is a pretty good chance we will take that player.”

george.king@nypost.com