MLB

A-Rod ‘ready to go’ after talk with Yankees manager

A busy offseason began in The Bronx yesterday as the Yankees exercised their options on Curtis Granderson, Robinson Cano and David Aardsma, the first of many anticipated moves.

And Joe Girardi, who said he would reach out to Alex Rodriguez in the aftermath of his postseason benchings, called the third baseman, a source confirmed.

“Joe knows Alex is sensitive and needed to have a conversation,” the source said. “He couldn’t go into the winter not knowing what was going on and wanted to clear his head. Now, both of them are ready to go.”

Girardi declined to comment last night.

The manager admitted in a press conference last week he would need to speak to Rodriguez prior to spring training.

“I’m always worried about whatever move I make, how it affects the club or affects the player,” Girardi said at Yankee Stadium last week. “Sure, [there’s a possibility] I might have to deal with it more than I expected, but I may not have to deal with it at all. As we move forward, I’ll get a temperature on it and keep track of it and see how it’s going.”

Rodriguez wasn’t the only Yankee to have a dismal playoffs. He was joined by Granderson and Cano, both of whom had $15 million options picked up despite their struggles. Their futures with the Yankees could still change, if team brass decides to move Granderson in an attempt to prepare for ownership’s mandate to get under the $189 million payroll luxury threshold by 2014.

The Yankees could explore an extension for Cano, but with Scott Boras as his agent, that seems unlikely. General manager Brian Cashman still likes Granderson and his left-handed power in center.

Aardsma, who made it back from Tommy John surgery late in the year, is due $500,000 plus incentives.

Cashman’s attention now shifts to next season’s roster. Rafael Soriano has three days to opt out of the final year of his contract and become a free agent, joining 42-year-old closer Mariano Rivera, who has yet to decide on his status for next season.

The Yankees are confident CC Sabathia is going to be fine by Opening Day after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow last week, but the rest of the starting rotation is unsettled. Andy Pettitte is among the team’s free agents and sounded throughout the season like he wanted to come backespecially after missing a chunk of the year with a fractured ankle.

Hiroki Kuroda, 37, proved he could pitch in the AL East, which may make him harder to re-sign.

Behind the plate, Russell Martin salvaged a horrendous start to the season with a solid second half and while he may not receive another offer like the three-year, $21 million deal he and the Yankees discussed last spring, he figures to draw plenty of interestwith the lack of quality catchers on the market.

If Nick Swisher signs elsewhere, which after yet another October flameout is likely, he will need to be replaced in the outfield. Ichiro Suzuki, 39, could return, but he played well enough after his trade from Seattle to generate offers from other teams.

The Yankees must also decide whether to bring Raul Ibanez back as a lefty DH. Andruw Jones’ second half swoon cost him a spot on the postseason roster, although he said he intends to keep playing.

Eric Chavez was solid for much of the season but showed he can’t play on a regular basis because of fragile health. And with Alex Rodriguez being reduced to a part-time player in the playoffs, the Yankees need help at third base.

Derek Lowe and Freddy Garcia can also test the waters and would like to start in 2013.

dan.martin@nypost.com