TAMPA — The physical problems attached to Nick Johnson, Alfredo Aceves, Francisco Cervelli and Jorge Posada haven’t vanished.
None of them, however, are serious enough to land the players on the disabled list, and they all are candidates to be available tonight when the Yankees open the season against the Red Sox in Fenway Park.
“Our DH should be OK [tonight], he feels pretty good,” Joe Girardi said of Johnson, who suffered a bruised right knee Friday when he fouled a ball off the leg. He left that game and didn’t take batting practice yesterday.
Posada, who was scratched Thursday and didn’t play Friday due to a stiff neck, returned to the lineup for yesterday’s game against the “Yankees Future Stars.”
Marte, whose left shoulder turned up “cranky” Friday, reported progress.
“It feels much better,” said the lefty reliever who explained he would be ready if asked tonight. “The inflammation is almost gone.”
Cervelli, who was sidelined by a left hamstring problem, caught bullpen sessions yesterday and said he can play tonight. Aceves’ back problem didn’t worsen after he threw an inning in a minor league game Friday.
The Yankees were confident enough in the health of Aceves and Marte that they optioned lefty reliever Boone Logan to the minors.
“Obviously if something could come up between today and tomorrow that could change but we expect them to be fine,” Girardi said.”
Sending Logan, 25, out was difficult because after pitching coach Dave Eiland adjusted his delivery, the lefty pitched very well.
“It was extremely hard because he did everything right and he pitched really well,” Girardi said of the reliever who was acquired with Javier Vazquez from the Braves in the offseason. “We are excited about him.”
In 10 appearances, Logan logged a 1.74 ERA and cut down on walks; issuing two in 101⁄3 innings and fanned eight. In 1272⁄3 big league innings Logan has walked 58 and fanned 102.
* Despite his early-spring troubles at the plate, Marcus Thames never questioned his decision to accept a minor league deal and try to win a roster spot.
“I hit .400 and six homers with Detroit and didn’t make the team one spring,” said Thames, who was informed Friday he made the club after signing a $900,000 non-guaranteed deal during the winter. “As long as I had good at-bats and did my work with Kevin [Long, hitting instructor]. … They liked what they saw.”
Thames, who homered yesterday vs. the Future stars and finished the spring with a .135 (7-for-52) average, will get a chance to play left field against some lefties.
“I was beating myself up, trying to do too much because I always wanted to come back here,” Thames said of his early struggles. “Then I started to relax.”
What calmed Thames was a homer he hit on March 27 against his former team, the Tigers.
“That felt good because I hadn’t put a charge into one,” said Thames, who started in the Yankees’ system in 1997 and was traded to Texas in 2003 for Ruben Sierra.
* Veteran catcher Chad Moeller signed a minor league deal with the Yankees after asking for and getting his release from the Orioles this week.
“Right now [GM Brian Cashman] is trying to find a spot for him,” Girardi said of Moeller, who was a Yankee in 2008. He could catch at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in place of Mike Rivera, who was waived yesterday.
* Phil Hughes stayed behind yesterday and will pitch in an extended spring training game tomorrow. He will rejoin the club in Boston and throw a bullpen session Wednesday and pitch in another extended game Saturday.
* Javier Vazquez’s final spring outing consisted of 41⁄3 innings in which he allowed three runs (two earned), seven hits and a walk. Vazquez is slated to face the Rays Friday night in St. Petersburg.