MLB

Yankees’ Teixeira 15 pounds lighter

TAMPA — Mark Teixeira didn’t drop 15 pounds in order to beat out the bunts he plans to put in play this year.

“The older you get, the lighter,’’ said the 31-year-old Yankees first baseman, who had been 225 to 230 pounds the past eight seasons. “I tried to eat better and work out a little harder. I also drank a lot of green juice. I was really happy with my offseason.’’

The switch-hitter worked out this winter at Bobby Valentine’s baseball center in Stamford, Conn., where he no doubt worked on his bunting.

The idea is that if Teixeira even shows bunt the heavy shift he sees as a left-handed hitter will be lessened. After hitting .223 against right-handed pitchers last year, something had to be addressed.

Most hitters who see shifts are power hitters who believe if they bunt, the other team is winning the mini-battle.

Teixeira said he understands the Yankees aren’t paying him $22.5 million to bunt.

“If the situation calls for me to drive in runs or hit a home run, I am not going to bunt,’’ Teixeira said. “But if the pitcher is dealing and we need a baserunner … [a bunt single] is better than a line drive to the second baseman in right field.’’

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According to general manager Brian Cashman, contract talks with catcher Russell Martin won’t be held until the Yankees are done playing.

“We will talk at the end of the season,’’ Cashman said of the mutual decision.

Martin can become a free agent after the season. The Yankees were willing to discuss a multi-year deal with him this past offseason but progress wasn’t made.

Martin, 29, will make $7.5 million this coming season.

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Robinson Cano said he doesn’t know where manager Joe Girardi will bat him in the lineup, but the left-handed-hitting second baseman understands no matter what spot he takes there will be pressure because of who will be hitting around him.

“Third, fifth, sixth or seventh, it’s the same,’’ Cano said. “The thing to me is that here you always have to produce because there are men on base.’’

Girardi said he hasn’t settled on a lineup, but replaced Teixeira in the third spot late in the season, and Cano hit there in all five games against the Tigers in the ALDS.

“No matter where we put Robby it won’t change his approach,’’ Girardi said. “He is dangerous and will be dangerous wherever we put him.’’

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Nick Swisher is the early favorite to assume A.J. Burnett’s postgame, whipped-cream pie in the face act for the Yankee hero.

“If I was to guess, that would be a pretty good guess,’’ Girardi said of the outgoing right fielder.

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With today’s first full-squad workout planned, Girardi was asked what his message to the players would be.

“It changes year to year but not a whole lot,’’ Girardi said. “I talk about what the focus is and the reason you do things in spring training.’’

And the focus is? “I think we all know that’’ Girardi said of winning the World Series.

Girardi watched the catchers take batting practice the past two days and noticed something missing.

“It was strange not to see Jorge [ Posada] hit, strange not to hear his voice and [see] his mannerisms,’’ Girardi said.

He said he plans to watch Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez closely for signs they need a day off.

“You understand as players get older at some point they slow down and you might have to manage them a little bit differently,’’ Girardi said. “It’s the spring in the step that I have to watch closely because as you get a little older you don’t recover quite as quickly. They are in tremendous shape, but you want to make sure they are fresh.’’

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Catcher Austin Romine was given the day off to rest a back problem Girardi said improved from Thursday to Friday.

“We will see how he feels [today],’’ Girardi said.