ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Plans can change quickly but Mark Teixeira said he believes he will be ready to come off the disabled list Friday night in time for the Red Sox-Yankees game at Yankee Stadium.
“By the end of next week,’’ Teixeira said when asked about being activated.
The first day Teixeira is eligible to come off the 60-day DL is Thursday. He is scheduled to play in the second of two minor league rehab games that night for Double-A Trenton. But there is a chance he could be in the big leagues by then.
“It looks like it’s getting fairly close,’’ manager Joe Girardi said before the Yankees’ 9-4 victory over Rays last night at Tropicana Field.
After playing in his first extended spring training game today against the Pirates at the Yankees’ minor league complex in Tampa, Teixeira won’t play in a game tomorrow. He will then play in extended spring training games Monday and Tuesday and join the Thunder for Wednesday’s game.
Teixeira, who hasn’t played in anything but simulated games since suffering a right wrist tendon injury swinging a bat on March 5 preparing for the World Baseball Classic, participated in a simulated game yesterday at the complex with Kevin Youkilis, who is getting closer to returning from the DL. Youkilis has been sidelined because of a lower back issue.
According to Teixeira, there is no lingering problem with the wrist he says has been put to the maximum tests.
“I have been trying to hit the ball as far as I can for a long time,’’ the switch-hitting first baseman said. “I am swinging really hard with no problems. It feels great. The last two weeks have been great. I am real excited about playing.’’
When Teixeira returns he will nudge Lyle Overbay (2-for-5, two RBIs) off first base, but not off the roster. That won’t happen until Youkilis is activated.
Though the Yankees have a definitive plan for Teixeira, they don’t for Youkilis. Nevertheless, general manager Brian Cashman said the right-handed-hitting corner infielder isn’t that far behind Teixeira.
“He looks good to me, but backs are tricky,’’ Teixeira said of Youkilis. “I don’t want to answer for him, but he looks good to me.’’
Teixeira was examined in New York on May 14 and saw Dr. Daniel Murphy yesterday. There were no tests; instead the doctors felt the wrist to see if there were any problems.
“I have been getting great feedback from their tests,’’ Teixeira said.
According to Teixeira, he never has returned late from an injury. Last season, he said he came back too soon from a calf injury and re-injured it.
“In my mind [last year] was if I had to push it I was going to blow out,’’ Teixeira said. “With this one I feel I have been good for weeks now but they have said, ‘Hold on, hold on.’ I have no fear that if I swing and miss, a check swing or swing at a ball weird … we have done every type of swing possible and I have had no problems.’’
Can Teixeira immediately regain the power swing that has produced 338 homers?
“The last year and a half with the injuries it’s been tough,’’ Teixeira said of injuries to his foot, thumb and calf. He also battled a chest infection a year ago. “I want to get back to who I know I can be. Hopefully, I can be when I come back.’’