BRADENTON, Fla. — Cuban refugee shortstop Adeinis Hechavarria is going to get more money than the $8 million Jose Iglesias received from the Red Sox, The Post has learned.
However, it won’t be from the Yankees. And that fact has nothing to do with the Yanks not wanting to spend the money on Hechavarria.
According to an industry source, Hechavarria is close to signing a $10 million deal with the Blue Jays — because he doesn’t envision himself playing short for the Yankees.
Hechavarria, 21, was leery of Derek Jeter’s impending extension, which will keep the Yankee captain at short for the foreseeable future.
Having seen Hechavarria work out often in the Dominican Republic, the Yankees were high on the 6-foot-1, 170-pounder with a hard body that resembles a young Alfonso Soriano.
Some in the organization believed Hechavarria could have made the switch to second base if the Yanks wanted to trade or let Robinson Cano go as a free agent following the 2011 season.
However, it appears Hechavarria didn’t want to wait until Jeter is no longer the Yankees’ shortstop, something nobody knows will ever happen.
The Tigers also had interest in Hechavarria, whose bat is considered stronger than that of Iglesias, a fellow Cuban shortstop and Boston rookie.
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His massive back leg didn’t collapse during his delivery. His fastball and change-up were crisper, the cutter diving down and the change-up better. So despite pedestrian numbers in a 10-5 loss to the Pirates yesterday, CC Sabathia explained that progress was made.
“I was more together,” said Sabathia, who allowed three runs, three hits and two walks in 4 1/3 innings. He left after taking a ball off his glove hand.
“The fastball command was a lot better, and the two-seamer [was] down. Today came together a little bit. I still have work to do to get ready for the season.”
With a strong wind blowing out, it was a tough day to be a pitcher at cozy McKechnie Field. Yank righty Dustin Moseley gave up three homers in an inning, and Jonathan Albaledejo surrendered three runs in two-thirds of an inning.
Nick Johnson got a ball up in the wind for a home run to right-center field.
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Manager Joe Girardi gave Alex Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada a complete day off yesterday. Since there is no game or workouts today, that means the veterans get two days of rest.
Rodriguez could use the break to meet with the feds, who want to know about his relationship with Canadian doctor Anthony Galea.
Galea admits to providing anti-inflammatory drugs to Rodriguez last year, when A-Rod was coming back from hip surgery. Galea is being investigated for suspected distribution of PEDs.