TAMPA, Fla. — From the outside, very little changed in Derek Jeter’s universe Thursday, a day after his bombshell announcement the upcoming season would be the finale of a Hall of Fame career.
The Yankees’ captain arrived at the minor league complex, applauded by fans, hit in the indoor cage, played catch, met Masahiro Tanaka and was mobbed by autograph hounds and the media on the way out of the parking lot in a freshly washed Mercedes.
People wanting to know so much more than Jeter’s Facebook post Wednesday as to why he reached the monumental decision didn’t get any answers.
When asked if he felt good about his decision, Jeter said, “I do. I’ll address it all [at George M. Steinbrenner Field] when we get there next week [for] the first day of spring training. It’s just easier that way.”
Since it’s unknown what Jeter — who turns 40 in June and is coming off a season that was limited to 17 games with leg problems — can contribute, the Yankees could be looking for his permanent replacement before next offseason.
Free agent Stephen Drew would vastly improve a suspect Yankees infield even if he has to play third or second base this season. However, the Yankees have been lukewarm at best on Drew, who turned down Boston’s $14.1 million qualifying offer and would cost the team that signs him a draft pick.
Presently, the Yankees have sensational fielding and light-hitting Brendan Ryan and Eduardo Nunez, who hasn’t proven he can play every day, behind Jeter. Neither comes close to Drew’s overall package.
That Jeter will disappear one year after fellow Core Four member Mariano Rivera retired — as did Andy Pettitte for a second time — isn’t lost on former Yankee Joba Chamberlain.
“It’s weird to think about baseball without Mariano Rivera, and then you go with baseball without Derek Jeter, that’s two guys who spent their whole career and played together their whole life,’’ Chamberlain told The Post Wednesday. “Is there going to be a void in the game to an extent? I think so just because of the success they had. That’s to their credit and obviously the guys they surrounded themselves with and the dedication they had toward the game.’’
Like many others, Chamberlain was stunned Jeter, not exactly a social-media veteran, used Facebook to get the message out.
“Knowing Derek and knowing how he handles things, I think it would surprise not only me but a lot of other people,’’ said Chamberlain, who at first didn’t believe the Facebook posting actually was penned by Jeter.
Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild, who managed against Jeter with Tampa Bay and has watched him from a front-row seat the past three years, admitted to being uncomfortable answering questions about Jeter’s decision and the timing of it. Yet, Rothschild put Jeter’s legacy into a very clear perspective.
“He is in the conversation about the greatest Yankees. You don’t have to say much more,’’ Rothschild said of Jeter, who is 10th on baseball’s all-time hit list (3,316), has five World Series rings and been an All-Star 13 times.
Catcher Francisco Cervelli was blindsided by Jeter’s announcement.
“I talk to him every day. Never talk about that with him. That’s his decision and I said last year I feel blessed to play with Mariano, [ when he] retired, with Andy and [now] with the captain is an experience I’m going to tell my kids,’’ Cervelli said. “I think he’s the greatest player I’ve ever seen in my life. I was surprised. You don’t know what to expect from him.’’