TAMPA — With pitchers Hisashi Iwakuma and Taijuan Walker sidelined by injuries, the Mariners are actively looking for help.
Their search led them to George M. Steinbrenner Field Tuesday night to take a look at Yankees starter David Phelps against the Orioles.
The Mariners had a scout watch Phelps, who is the leading candidate to be the Yankees’ fifth starter but who could be expandable with Adam Warren or, possibly, Michael Pineda finding his way into that slot.
Phelps danced in and out of trouble during a 2 ¹/₃-inning stint in which he allowed a run and five hits.
“It would be nice to get somebody out out of the stretch,’’ said Phelps, who worked on a changeup that got hit. “If that is as bad as it gets, I will take it.’’
Yankees scouts are searching spring training camps for help at third and second base. With Robinson Cano entrenched at second, the Mariners might move Nick Franklin, although it would likely take more than Phelps to pry Franklin away.
The Mariners weren’t the only club represented at GMS Field looking specifically for Yankee players to acquire. The White Sox, who have infielders to deal and need a backup catcher, had a scout at the game. So, too, did the Brewers, who are looking for a backup catcher. They could dangle second baseman Rickie Weeks or third baseman Aramis Ramirez. Both make big money, and general manager Brian Cashman said any additions from the outside would be inexpensive.
However, the Brewers might want to swallow some of the money to make a deal that possibly would include Francisco Cervelli, John Ryan Murphy or Austin Romine.
Ramirez makes $16 million this season in the final year of a three-year, $36 million deal. Weeks makes $11 million this year and there is an $11.5 million option for 2015.
As for the No. 5 starter competition, Phelps said it doesn’t dominate his thoughts.
“I don’t worry about it, my job is to get guys out,’’ Phelps said.
The Yankees held a moment of silence for Monica Barlow, the Orioles’ public relations director who recently died of cancer.
Cervelli homered and drove in the Yankees’ first run and Yangervis Solarte singled in the other.
Solarte is in camp on a minor-league deal and opening eyes with his versatility and bat. Listed as an infielder, Solarte started in left Tuesday night when he went 1-for-2. He is batting .779 (7-for-9) with two homers and six RBIs in five games.
Derek Jeter was the designated hitter and went 0-for-2. He is 0-for-9 and grounded into three double plays.
Mark Teixeira is scheduled to hit against live pitching Wednesday morning and is looking to play in his first exhibition game Thursday against the Phillies in Clearwater.
“Everything has gone good so far,’’ Teixeira said of his surgically repaired right wrist.
Shortstop Brendan Ryan was fortunate to get away with a bruised left hand instead of something worse.
Russ Canzler’s batting-practice smash caught Ryan on the glove hand and knocked the mitt off Ryan’s hand.
“I was fielding a ground ball [off a fungo bat] and the ball was right in front of me,’’ Ryan said. “It was about to hit my chest and I got the glove on it. It got me in the muscle by the thumb. It could have been much worse.’’
Ryan started against the Orioles Tuesday night at short and went 1-for-2.
How much has Brian Roberts’ profile changed since leaving Baltimore, where for years he was the face of the franchise?
Roberts’ wife was moving into the GMS stands when a security guard said, “Diana, right?’’ When she said yes, the guard said, “I don’t know your last name.’’ Later, Diana said to her husband, “That was odd.’’
“Usually they say, ‘You are Brian’s wife, right?’” Roberts said. “It’s different to be the guy in the back who nobody cares or knows about.’’
Former Yankee pitcher Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez is a guest instructor in the Yankees’ minor-league camp for the next two weeks.