MINNEAPOLIS — The Yankees certainly could have helped themselves by acquiring Jeff Samardzija and/or Jason Hammel from the Cubs to bolster a rotation that houses struggling starters Vidal Nuno and Chase Whitley.
Samardzija and Hammel went to the Athletics on Friday, but there is a plus to the trade: None of the other teams in the wide-open AL East race got them.
“Really glad,’’ manager Joe Girardi said of not having the right-handers in the same division. “And we don’t play [the A’s] anymore.’’
Of course, the Yankees still need help in the rotation and have limited in-house options. Lefty David Huff, who has been very effective in long relief, is a candidate if Girardi wants to make a move. So, too, is Triple-A starter Shane Greene, whose last two outings have been good.
With Samardzija and Hammel off the market, trade options are slimmer. The Rays aren’t likely to deal David Price within the AL East and Cliff Lee of the Phillies has to prove he is healthy. The Phillies would move A.J. Burnett, but the Yankees don’t have a strong interest in bringing back the right-hander. With Samardzija and Hammel gone, the price on secondary starters such as Ian Kennedy likely has risen.
As of Saturday morning, Girardi said there were no plans to change the look of his rotation.
“We talk about situations but at no point have we said the rotation is changing,’’ Girardi said.
When the season opened, a rotation of Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda, Ivan Nova and Michael Pineda was considered a strength. Now, Nova is out for the year, Sabathia is headed that way and nobody knows what Pineda will be able to contribute.
“We don’t have the depth we had. Are there adjustments we could possibly make? Yeah. But coming out of spring training you knew you had Nuno, [David] Phelps and [Adam] Warren who had started before,’’ Girardi said. “We don’t necessarily have that experience. The most built up in the minor leagues is Greene. He is starting to throw better but we don’t have a ton of depth.’’
Since Greene last pitched for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday, the same day Nuno got hammered by the Rays, the right-hander is an option for Monday when Nuno (2-5, 5.42 ERA) is slated to start against the Indians in Cleveland.
Following a 35-pitch, three-inning relief outing Friday, Huff believes he has been stretched out enough to start if needed.
“He has been up to 61 pitches and is more stretched out than when we got him [from San Francisco] but we haven’t made changes,’’ Girardi said.
Whitley is 0-2 with a 14.81 ERA in his last three starts and was replaced by Huff on Friday.
The Twins presented Derek Jeter with two gifts on Saturday before their 2-1, 11-inning win over the Yankees. The club gave Jeter the last second base used at the Metrodome and a $10,000 check for his Turn 2 Foundation.
Jeter played in the final game at the Metrodome in the 2009 ALDS.
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire heaped a mountain of praise on Jeter during a speech to the crowd from home plate.
“For Ron Gardenhire to say those things, I will remember that,’’ Jeter said.
Prior to the ceremony, Phil Hughes, Joe Mauer and Brian Dozier spoke in a video tribute.
Having started 39 straight games, left fielder Brett Gardner was not in the lineup Saturday.
Girardi started the ice-cold Alfonso Soriano against right-hander Yohan Pino and used Gardner for defense late in the loss. Soriano went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
“I am trying to be smart and keep guys on the field, it’s a long haul,’’ Girardi said.
Plate umpire Marty Foster ejected Gardenhire in the home third inning. It was Gardenhire’s 70th career ejection and third of the season. … The loss stopped a seven-game Yankees winning streak at Target Field.
According to Girardi, Pineda could start throwing off a mound at the end of next week. Since Pineda will require a full six-week spring training before being able to face big league hitters he wouldn’t be ready until late August. And that is without having setbacks. He already has had several coming back from a terres major problem in the upper right back.
Girardi spoke to Sabathia on Friday.
“I told him we are going to get through it but we don’t know what the course of action is going to be,’’ Girardi said.
Sabathia is slated to see Dr. James Andrews on July 14, and there is the possibility his troublesome right knee will need surgery. Even if he can avoid the knife it’s highly unlikely the soon-to-be 34-year-old lefty will return this season. If microfracture surgery is necessary Sabathia’s career could possibly be over.
“CC loves to compete, so I am sure he is down but unfortunately it’s part of the game and you have to figure out how to get through it,’’ Girardi said.
Designated for assignment Thursday, infielder Dean Anna was claimed off waivers by the Pirates on Saturday.