DUNEDIN, Fla. — Alfonso Soriano still isn’t sure exactly what it was that knocked him flat the past week, but he’s glad to be regaining strength and should be fully up to speed this week.
“They still aren’t exactly sure what it was but I had fever and [nausea],” Soriano said. “I should be 100 percent soon, though. I’m ready to get back to work.”
According to manager Joe Girardi, the outfielder and designated hitter could get into a game for the first time this spring soon.
“We are looking at early [this] week,’’ Girardi said. “He did a lot [Sunday], and I want to see how he feels.’’
While the Yankees played the Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium on Sunday, Soriano worked out at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.
Girardi is looking possibly at Thursday for Mark Teixeira’s exhibition game debut.
“We are shooting for Thursday or Friday,’’ Girardi said.
Carlos Beltran had an ice bag attached to his left big toe after the Yankees’ 8-4 victory over the Blue Jays.
“It happens when the batter’s box is hard dirt and I come out of the box hard,’’ said Beltran, who wasn’t overly concerned about it.
Beltran went 1-for-3, homered and drove in a run.
Asked what type of spring-training hitter he is, Beltran replied: “Not a good one. But as long as I feel good physically everything will fall in place.’’
Vidal Nuno’s chances of grabbing the No. 5 spot in the rotation are long. However, the former independent league lefty could sneak into Girardi’s bullpen.
“I think you have to,’’ Girardi said when asked whether Nuno should be considered for a bullpen spot. “He is left-handed and can give you some innings. He can get left-handed and right-handed hitters out. I think you have to look at it.’’
Nuno made the trek from Baker University in Kansas to the big leagues last year when he appeared in five games (three starts) and went 1-2 with a 2.25 ERA for the Yankees. In early June, Nuno went on the Triple-A disabled list with a strained left groin and didn’t pitch again.
In between Baker and The Bronx, there was a 2011 stint for Washington of the Frontier (Independent) League, where he was 2-3 with a 2.83 ERA in six starts.
“If you produce you will be around,’’ said Nuno, who worked two innings, gave up two hits and a run to the Blue Jays. He fanned three and gave up a homer to Jose Bautista that cleared the trees beyond the left-field fence.
Matt Thornton replaced Boone Logan as the top lefty in the pen and Girardi is open to taking another lefty if one is worthy.
Eduardo Nunez showed why he should make the team and why he has been held back from everyday duty in the same game Sunday.
In the first inning Nunez made a nifty stop of a Jose Reyes grounder to short and threw low to first base for an error. In the third inning Nunez hit a two-run homer in front of Beltran’s homer.
“By playing all over the place and playing well,’’ Girardi said when asked how Nunez could stick. “We know there is a lot of talent in that young man. He has to be able to play all over.’’
The Yankees had a moment of excitement in the clubhouse before the game when a towel in a dryer caught fire and filled the room with smoke.
“We had to clear out. It was a little smoky in our clubhouse,’’ Girardi said.