The Yankees’ offense could get some much needed juice later in the week with the possible return of Carlos Beltran.
After taking another round of batting practice, Beltran was sent to Tampa Sunday night and is expected to play in three extended spring training games in his first action since being sidelined with a bone spur in his right elbow that has required a pair of cortisone injections.
Without any setbacks, Beltran could rejoin the Yankees in time for Thursday’s afternoon game in The Bronx against the A’s or the road trip that begins Friday in Kansas City.
“We’ll try to get him 12 at-bats over the next three days,” general manager Brian Cashman said.
The Yankees chose to send Beltran to Tampa to ensure he’d get enough plate appearance to prove he’s healthy as he tries to avoid surgery.
“You get more at-bats at a quicker pace,” Joe Girardi said. “I would hope that we would see him fairly soon here.”
Michael Pineda likely will be shut down for at least 10 days because of the soreness he felt after pitching two innings in an extended spring training game last week.
“Last time we shut him down for 10 days before picked up a baseball and I’m sure it’ll be 10 days here, maybe even a little more, depending on how he feels,” Girardi said. “It’s very similar to what he had [when he suffered the original injury]. It’s unfortunate, but we’ll try to get him going again.”
Pineda said he had no trouble with the shoulder before the recent flare-up.
“My arm felt great last week,” he said. “It’s not that bad. … I felt ready on Monday and Tuesday. My velocity was there.”
The Yankees continue to have their fingers crossed the cortisone shot Mark Teixeira received Saturday will allow him to get back on the field Tuesday.
“You’re in a wait-and-see pattern,” said Girardi, who noted Teixeira’s wrist bothers him less when he’s batting right-handed, which could make him available against Oakland lefty Scott Kazmir on Tuesday. “The doctor was pretty reassuring. They don’t think it’s serious, but it can be a pain in the rear … or the wrist.”
If he’s not able to play, the only remedy seems to be more time off.
“The sheath is repaired, so it’s not like you go in there and do something,” Girardi said. “It would just be more rest.”
Francisco Cervelli isn’t eligible to come off the 60-day DL until mid-June, but he could start rehab games soon.
“I don’t know when he’s playing in a game, but it’s pretty close,” Girardi said.
John Ryan Murphy has exceeded expectations filling in as Brian McCann’s backup, which could lead to a difficult decision once Cervelli is ready to return.
“We’ll figure out what we’re going to do in that situation, how we’re going to use the guys,” Girardi said. “[Cervelli] was playing extremely well and gives us a lot of flexibility. I plan on him being back here.”
Additional reporting by Ken Davidoff