According to a pair of American League talent evaluators, the Braves and Giants have an interest in Joba Chamberlain.
Braves scout Jim Fregosi watched Chamberlain pitch a scoreless inning Friday night in Baltimore, when his fastball was clocked in the mid-90s.
The Giants sent scout Lee Elder to Target Field for last night’s Twins-Yankees game exclusively to watch Chamberlain. He posted another scoreless frame but walked and hit a batter.
During spring training the Rangers were interested in Chamberlain, but never made an offer to the Yankees.
When Chamberlain started the season strong — he didn’t allow a run and just six hits in eight appearances from April 8 to April 27, the Yankees were pleased to have him in front of David Robertson and Mariano Rivera in the pen.
However, Chamberlain went on the disabled list May 3 with a right oblique problem and Shawn Kelley and Preston Claiborne filled the role very well.
Since returning May 27, Chamberlain’s velocity has been in the mid-90s, but he has been hit hard due to an inability to put hitters away because of an inconsistent slider. Last night he topped out at 96 mph.
In nine games since coming off the shelf, Chamberlain has worked 9 1/3 innings, allowed 14 hits (four homers) and given up nine runs. He has whiffed a dozen and walked four.
Chamberlain, 26, will be a free agent following the season and isn’t expected to be part of the Yankees’ 2014 plans.
* Derek Jeter is running the bases and while he doesn’t have a schedule to begin rehab games, they are on the horizon.
“We have some ideas,” general manager Brian Cashman said. “But no dates.”
* Curtis Granderson caught balls with a glove on for the first time since fracturing his left hand.
“I was able to put a glove on today,” Granderson said. “It felt a lot better from last week to today. Hopefully it’s a sign of good things to come.”
He still can’t use a bat, but was encouraged by yesterday’s progress.
“It was just playing catch,” the center fielder said. “Nothing coming at me extremely hard, just like you would long-tossing, with the ball coming with a little arc on it. It was a little foreign because I haven’t done it in a while.”
* The Yankees have won 22 of the last 29 regular season games against the Twins and 28 of the 35.
* Even though Ivan Nova isn’t available until Thursday after throwing 73 pitches Friday night in Baltimore and manager Joe Girardi said he has no plans to insert him into the rotation, the right-hander is still with the club that is carrying 13 pitchers and leaving Girardi a position player short.
***Girardi said there are no plans to use Alex Rodriguez or Jeter at any field position than third and short, respectively, to remove stress from their lower body injuries they are coming back from.
***Eduardo Nunez’s rehab assignment in Tampa was hurt by rain yesterday when the Single-A team was rained out. Sunday he got one at-bat before the game was called.
“[Moving him] somewhere else is not my department but we need him to play,’’ Girardi said of the shortstop who has been out since May 5 with a strained left oblique.