DALLAS — Speaking for the first time about Mariano Rivera’s vocal cords problem, general manager Brian Cashman gave a positive account of the Yankees closer’s recent surgery.
“I have been told everything is fine,’’ Cashman said of the all-time saves leader.
Rivera had polyps removed from the vocal cords last week and the tissue was sent for a biopsy.
* Japanese pitching sensation Yu Darvish was entered into the posting process yesterday. But the Yankees aren’t giving signals they are ready to make an $80 million to $100 million investment in the 25-year-old right-hander.
“There has been a lot of discussion about him coming over,’’ Cashman said of Darvish. “We will evaluate it. You make each decision on its own but it’s also timing. When Carlos Beltran was a free agent, we had Bernie Williams in center. When Carlos Delgado was a free agent we had Jason Giambi at first. We will see how he plays out.’’
MLB clubs have until 5 p.m. Wednesday to submit blind bids for Darvish. The highest bidder then has 30 days to sign Darvish or he returns to the Nippon Ham Fighters.
* Cashman talking about Albert Pujols jokingly slipped Jesus Montero into the conversation.
“He is one of the greatest players, so he makes everybody better,’’ Cashman said of Pujols. “He is a special player. I see what he does with the bat. It’s Montero-like.’’
That drew chuckles from the reporters surrounding Cashman, who said Montero’s name with a smile.
* Pitching prospect Hector Noesi will be in the Yankees’ rotation or starting at Triple-A.
“I don’t want to waste his talent as a long man,’’ Cashman said of the right-hander many in the organization believe has the ability to be as good as Ivan Nova, who won 16 games as a rookie.
* Finding a long reliever is on Cashman’s list of offseason chores and yesterday the Yankees selected right-hander Brad Meyers in the Rule 5 draft. Meyers pitched at three levels of the Nationals’ system this past season when he was 9-7 with a 3.18 ERA in 25 games.
Always looking for a second lefty in the pen, the Yankees traded up in the Rule 5 draft and acquired Cesar Cabral, whom the Royals took from the Red Sox.
The Yankees tried to deal with the top three teams (Astros, Twins and Mariners) but were unsuccessful. The Orioles at fourth didn’t budge but the Royals did, and the Yankees sent them $50,000 to take the 22-year-old lefty.
He went 3-4 with a 2.95 ERA in 36 combined relief appearances with Salem (Single-A) and Portland (Double-A) in 2011, recording 70Ks in 55.0 IP. He was originally signed by the Red Sox as a non-drafted free agent in 2006, Cabral was taken by the Rays in the 2010 Rule 5 Draft and later returned to Boston.
“He’s got the ability to get lefties out,’’ Cashman said.
* A day after Bobby Valentine made news by saying he “hated’’ the Yankees, Cashman didn’t add fuel to the situation.
“I don’t hate the Red Sox, hate is a strong word,’’ Cashman said. “I don’t hate Bobby.’’