FORT MYERS, Fla. — Pedro Feliciano was signed to a two-year deal to help upgrade the Yankees’ bullpen.
After leading the majors in appearances for the past three seasons with the Mets, the 34-year-old lefty was expected to be durable and effective against lefties.
Now, he is going to open the season on the disabled list with a muscle problem in the back of the left shoulder.
“He played catch [yesterday] and didn’t feel great,” manager Joe Girardi said yesterday before a 7-6 loss to the Twins at Hammond Stadium. “It’s hard to think he would start [the season].”
Softening the loss is Boone Logan, who was going to be Girardi’s second lefty in the pen.
Feliciano recently underwent an MRI exam and threw a bullpen session last week.
Girardi added lefty Steve Garrison to the mix of arms to replace Feliciano, who appeared in 266 games in the past three years. Also being considered are Mark Prior and Luis Ayala.
Romulo Sanchez was mentioned earlier in the process, but the Yankees removed him from yesterday’s travel roster because they were discussing a trade involving the right-hander who is out of options.
Teams have been interested in the hard-throwing right-hander who has been plagued by control problems because of his power arm and weight problems. The 6-foot-5 Sanchez is listed at 270 pounds but that’s light.
Sanchez, who turns 27 next month, has 28 big-league games for the Pirates and Yankees.
Garrison, 24, was claimed off waivers from the Padres last September and hasn’t pitched in a big-league game after six years in the minors. Girardi said he has been impressed with Garrison’s work against lefties this spring.
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Girardi said Curtis Granderson “had a good day.” Granderson has been idle since suffering a right rib cage injury on March 22.
“He will take BP [today], and that’s a good sign,” Girardi said. “Every day he takes the next step you have to be optimistic but you need to see it turned up.”
Chris Dickerson, acquired from the Brewers for Sergio Mitre, is down with a left hamstring problem suffered in his first game Saturday.
“We are not sure if it’s a slight strain or a cramp,” Girardi said. “He took BP [yesterday].”
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Girardi didn’t need a stat sheet to tell him that Eric Chavez could help the Yankees as a bench player.
“I saw the bat speed right when he got to camp,” Girardi said of the 33-year-old left-handed hitter. “If he is healthy, he can help us. He has looked great.”
The former A’s third baseman has been limited to 64 games in the past three seasons due to neck, back and shoulder injuries.
There is a clause in Chavez’s contract that states he can opt out of the minor league deal if not placed on the big-league roster. However, that’s a formality and expected to be done today at the latest.
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The Yankees will resolve who the backup catcher and reserve infielder will be prior to leaving Florida, but Girardi isn’t under a deadline when it comes to what the top of the lineup will look like.
Girardi has been using Derek Jeter and Brett Gardner in the leadoff spot to see who works better. He also has toyed with the idea of hitting Jeter first against lefties and Gardner ninth as well as Gardner on top versus righties with Jeter second.
“That’s one of the things we will sit down and talk about the next four days,” Girardi said. “I am still thinking about it. I haven’t turned my brain off.”
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When it comes to veterans, Girardi isn’t concerned with spring-training numbers.
“You don’t get caught up in spring-training numbers,” Girardi said of outfielder Andruw Jones, who is hitting .171 (7-for-41). “You go on history. A lot of guys have tough springs. You can’t make too much of a guy who has a great spring or a bad spring. You got to go on the track record.”
Jones, who signed a one-year deal worth $2 million plus incentives, has 407 lifetime homers and hit 19 last year for the White Sox in 278 at-bats. He will be 34 late next month.
Lately, Jones has been working with hitting coach Kevin Long to use his legs more in his swing.
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The Yankees recognized the return of HOPE Week in a pre-game ceremony, yesterday.
The Yankees honored 12-year-old Julianne Ramirez of Tampa. Last June, Julianne noticed 3-year-old family friend Bella Villa had stopped swimming and was sinking underwater. Julianne, who had learned CPR as a third grader in the Girl Scouts, rescued Bella from the pool and began chest compressions, saving Bella’s life.
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Switch-pitcher Pat Venditte worked one-third of an inning yesterday for the Yankees.
“The kid has done well in the minor leagues everywhere he has been,” Girardi said of Venditte, who was 5-2 with six saves and a 1.93 combined ERA last summer in Single-A and Double-A.
Venditte was one of eight Yankee hurlers.
“We wanted to show our pitching coach [Larry Rothschild] the organization and we showed a lot of it,” Girardi said.
A.J. Burnett makes his final spring start tonight against the Rays at Steinbrenner Field.