MLB

Yankees GM ‘comfortable’ with Chavez, Nix replacing A-Rod

Brian Cashman is satisfied Jayson Nix and Eric Chavez can handle third base until Alex Rodriguez returns from a fractured bone in his left hand.

Yet, the Yankees general manager isn’t downplaying what Rodriguez means to the middle of the lineup, even if the third baseman went on the disabled list with 15 homers and 44 RBIs in 94 games.

“I’m comfortable with what we have, they’ve done a nice job,’’ Cashman said. “[But] “We need Alex back, his right-handed power. He’s a constant threat and we miss that. You saw that in the Boston series.’’

BOX SCORE

Chavez rewarded Cashman’s faith with a RBI single and solo homer in last night’s 5-4 loss to the Orioles.

With a thin third-base market heading into today’s 4 p.m. trade deadline, Cashman doesn’t anticipate adding a third baseman.

If Rodriguez is out eight weeks, that puts his return in the middle of September.

* Nick Swisher might have a chance to get comfortable as the designated hitter.

Manager Joe Girardi had the switch-hitting Swisher in the DH slot, batting fifth against right-hander Miguel Gonzalez. It was the second straight game Girardi used Swisher, who went 1-for-4, as the DH instead of in right field.

“I might DH him every day for the next three days, I’m not sure,’’ Girardi said of Swisher, who hasn’t played the outfield since July 20, when he suffered a mild strain of his left hip flexor running out a ground ball in Oakland. “I’ll discuss it with him and see how he feels. You have to be smart about it and we told him to be smart about it and continue to communicate.’’

Swisher didn’t return to the lineup until Sunday, when he went 2-for-4 and was hit by a pitch.

“Right now, [DHing] the way to go and we can afford to do this,’’ Swisher said. “As soon as I get on the field, I don’t want to leave.’’

* Ichiro Suzuki hit his first homer as a Yankee and fifth of the year. It was also the 100th career homer for Ichiro, who hadn’t homered in 188 at-bats. He has hit in all seven games as a Yankee. … Robinson Cano, who went 0-for-4, is hitless in a season-high 14 at-bats.

* Girardi said even though Andy Pettitte was put on the 60-day DL with a fractured left ankle in late June, it wasn’t a lock the lefty would be off the shelf in that time frame.

Pettitte said Sunday his foot swelled up recently in Seattle and that he “had to take it easy,’’ in his rehab, meaning a return Sept. 1 is unlikely.

“We said all along that this was a 60-day injury at least,’’ Girardi said. “If you don’t pick up a baseball and throw off a mound for at least six weeks, 60 days is pretty tough to get back by because you’re talking about having to build a guy back up. … I wouldn’t call it a setback. I would call it part of the healing process.’’

Cashman said he expected to see Pettitte in the final month of the regular season. Girardi repeated that, but said he didn’t know exactly when.

“I think he will be back in September, I think 60 days was kind of pushing it,’’ Girardi said. “If we thought he was going to be ready in 50 days we wouldn’t have put him on the 60-day DL.’’

Pettitte suffered the injury June 27, so the first day he is eligible to come off the DL is Aug. 27, but that isn’t going to happen.

“I only get concerned when they tell me I should be concerned,’’ Cashman said.

* Joba Chamberlain’s next — and possibly final — minor league rehab outing is scheduled for tonight in Trenton for the Double-A Thunder.

“After that we will evaluate,’’ said Cashman, who indicated activating Chamberlain afterward is a possibility.

Since Chamberlain’s 30-day rehab started July 10, it ends Aug. 8, but he is expected back before that deadline.

Chamberlain, who is returning from Tommy John surgery last summer and ankle surgery in March, has made seven rehab outings and believed he was prepared to face major league hitters a while ago.

“I felt ready a month ago,’’ said Chamberlain, who pitched for Trenton on Sunday.

Chamberlain played catch, ran and lifted weights yesterday. His return is being viewed by the Yankees as the equivalent to acquiring a power arm to put in the bullpen. While the Yankees continue to monitor the reliever market as the trade deadline approaches, there likely isn’t anybody available better than Chamberlain and he won’t require sending a player away or taking on more money.

Girardi paired catcher Chris Stewart with Freddy Garcia last night. It was the sixth straight game Stewart caught the veteran right-hander.

In 13 games throwing to Russell Martin, Garcia had a 6.83 ERA compared to the 3.66 ERA he had working with Stewart.