TAMPA — Outside of David Robertson closing and Matt Thornton facing lefties, the rest of Joe Girardi’s bullpen isn’t close to being defined.
Yet, it appears very early in the process right-hander Shawn Kelley has a slight edge to replace Robertson in the eighth inning.
“I think if you were to draw it up now you would say that because of his experience and ability to strike people out,’’ Girardi said when asked if Kelley would be used late in games. “He had a pretty good year for us last year.’’
Acquired from the Mariners in a spring-training deal last year Kelley appeared in 57 games, posting a 4-2 record with a 4.39 ERA. Most impressive was 71 strikeouts to 23 walks in 53 ¹/₃ innings.
“After [Robertson and Thornton] it’s pretty open in a sense. You have ideas about roles people should play, but some of that depends on what happens to that [fifth starter] spot. The guys who aren’t in the fifth spot do they go to the bullpen? But Kelley is a guy who should be able to pitch later in the game,’’ Girardi said.
David Phelps, who has experience starting and relieving, appears to be the early leader for the fifth spot with Adam Warren in the hunt.
Michael Pineda and Manny Banuelos are coming back from surgeries and will likely open the season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
“The evaluations will probably be made a little later in camp this year,’’ Girardi said.
Having received a copy of the spring training running program after he signed a $155 million deal for seven years, Masahiro Tanaka knew what the deal was.
Following a Saturday bullpen session Tanaka was informed he needed to run a mile that consisted of four laps around the field.
“Probably what I’ll remember is the four laps at the end. It was pretty hard,’’ Tanaka had said Saturday. “I actually didn’t know that I was going to run this much and I’m a little bit of a slow runner, but that part I can’t help.’’
Sunday Tanaka said he didn’t know he was going to run at “that particular time.’’
Sunday’s running program consisted of short sequences and posed no problems.
Add Mark Teixeira to the list of players surprised Derek Jeter announced last week this will be his final season.
“I was shocked. to be quite honest with you,’’ Teixeira said. “I thought Derek had a couple of years left in him. I could have seen Derek playing until he was 40 or 45. I am excited he gets to go out on his own terms.’’
Jeter, who turns 40 in June, is scheduled address the media Wednesday at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Teixeira talked matter-of-factly about Alex Rodriguez missing the entire season due to suspension.
“Alex, we will see him next year and I wish him the best on his year off,’’ Teixeira said. “Hopefully he is healthy and productive next year.’’
Yoshinori Tateyama, a non-roster right-handed reliever from Japan, was slated to arrive in Tampa Sunday night after clearing up a visa problem.
Tateyama, 38, was sensational last year working for Scranton Wilkes-Barre where he appeared in 21 games (one start) and fanned 42 in 42 ¹/₃ innings and posted a 1.70 ERA.
He pitched for the Rangers in 2011 and 20012, appearing in 53 games. He struck out 61 in 61 innings, allowed 17 walks and posted a 5.75 ERA.
The Yankees signed 40-man roster members Dean Anna ($500,000 in majors) and lefty Vidal Nuno ($504,500 in majors).