MLB

GIRARDI HOLDING BACK JORGE

TAMPA – Not wanting to tax his surgically repaired right shoulder, the Yankees’ plan isn’t to use Jorge Posada behind the plate when the exhibition season starts Feb. 25.

“I am impressed with his arm strength and the way he has bounced back,” Joe Girardi said of Posada. “He is not going to (catch) until sometime in the middle of March.”

Posada has been cleared to DH from the beginning of the exhibition season. Ideally, Girardi would like to see Posada catch between 100 and 110 games.

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Don’t look for Mariano Rivera early, either. Rivera had shoulder surgery and typically only requires eight to 10 spring appearances to be ready.

“With the length of spring training we will go slow for a while,” Girardi said. “It’s not necessary for him to throw in games on Feb. 25.”

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Pitchers and catchers report today but don’t have physically to be at George M. Steinbrenner Field. They simply are required to be in Florida and to tell the club where they are. The first workout is tomorrow.

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Hideki Matsui was examined by trainer Gene Monahan yesterday, and Girardi said Matsui’s surgically repaired left knee is progressing. However, Girardi said it’s not likely Matsui will play the outfield in the exhibition season.

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For the first time this spring, but certainly not the last, Girardi said Joba Chamberlain is a starter and not a reliever.

“He is penciled in to be a starter,” Girardi said of Chamberlain, who threw a bullpen session yesterday next to Phil Hughes. “That’s a debate we can have for a long time; where he serves [the Yankees] better.”

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A.J. Burnett surfaced at the minor league complex yesterday and played catch with Brian Bruney.

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Girardi said Brett Gardner and Melky Cabrera will fight for the center field job but didn’t discount another name surfacing.

“It’s subject to change in Yankee land,” Girardi said. The Yankees could revisit the Mike Cameron trade talks if they believe Gardner or Cabrera aren’t the answer.

Girardi wouldn’t commit to Xavier Nady being his regular right fielder.

“If I was making a lineup today: Would X be in it?” Girardi said. “Maybe. That’s something we will decide in the next 7 1/2 weeks.”

Girardi’s other choice is switch-hitter Nick Swisher, and the manager would rather not platoon.