TAMPA — Jorge Posada has no interest in following Andy Pettitte’s road back to baseball.
A year ago, Pettitte came to Yankees spring training as a guest instructor after sitting out the 2011 season. By the middle of March, he signed a contract to come out of retirement and started a game on Mother’s Day.
Now Posada, who did not play last year, is in camp as a guest instructor. Could Posada copy Pettitte?
“He was a little younger than me,’’ the 41-year-old Posada said of Pettitte, who was 38 a year ago. “I have no interest in playing ball.’’
PHOTOS: YANKEES SPRING TRAINING
Posada said he is talking to the Yankees about some type of part-time job.
“I like teaching and to help out and be there with the catchers and what it takes to get [to the big leagues],” Posada said. “Right now, part-time. Jorge [his son] is playing baseball and I enjoy being there for him, and my daughter [Paulina] is playing tennis. I am taxiing all over the place, and I enjoy that.’’
Posada called dressing with the coaches instead of the players “weird.’’ He will go home to Miami next week and return to camp in the middle of March.
With Pettitte’s return from retirement still fresh in his mind, manager Joe Girardi said he would not be shocked if Posada reversed field.
“I know there was a left-handed pitcher who said he wasn’t coming back either: He came to camp, sat in on a few meetings and was back a couple of weeks later,” Girardi said. “Anytime we have a guy who does what Jorge is doing, there will be speculation, and I think it’s fair to do. Jorge is a guy who loves to play the game. I don’t know how much Jorge has done to stay in playing shape where Andy was throwing to his boys.’’
Asked if he was ruling out a Posada comeback, Girardi said, “I don’t rule out anything anymore.’’
* Derek Jeter still is not running outside or on the bases, but he has increased the intensity of his rehab program. Posada said it is a positive sign Jeter is not taping the left ankle he broke in last season’s ALCS.
“I am stepping it up every day more and more,” Jeter said. “More agility and more [indoor] running, increasing the workload.”
Jeter has not been told when he will be able to run the bases. He has been taking ground balls and batting practice.
“You have to be smart,” he said. “There is no reason to be jumping around and doing things you shouldn’t be doing at this point.”
* Phil Hughes won’t know how the bulging disk in his upper back responds until he gets on a mound. But four days of rest and anti-inflammatory medicine have provided him with hope.
“The difference is significant,’’ Hughes said. “I have the medicine for two [more] days, and I start in the pool [tomorrow]. … It’s a lot better, but I haven’t been doing anything.’’
Girardi said he is encouraged by Hughes’ report of progress, but is not ready to proclaim his No. 4 starter healed.
“It’s still too early,” he said. “You have to see him get on a mound to feel that you are through it and it’s not going to be an issue that pops up all the time. But that’s a good sign.’’
* CC Sabathia threw in the bullpen for the third time and will throw batting practice Monday.
* Mark Teixeira and Robinson Cano are the marquee names making the trip to Lake Buena Vista today when the Yankees face the Braves in the initial exhibition game.
Francisco Cervelli will catch fifth starter candidate David Phelps, who will be limited to 35 pitches or two innings.
The experiment of playing Brett Gardner in center field and Curtis Granderson in left will not debut today. That is more likely to happen tomorrow, when Adam Warren is scheduled to start against the Blue Jays at George M. Steinbrenner Field.