Brian Cashman said he hopes CC Sabathia can rejoin the Yankees in mid-July, but the general manager isn’t waiting until then to upgrade the rotation.
“I am looking to make some addition if I can. So I would like to do things before those guys get back if possible,’’ Cashman said, talking about Sabathia, who is getting closer to returning from the disabled list, and Michael Pineda, who isn’t. “The reason we haven’t done anything is not for the lack of phone calls.’’
At 41-38 after a 2-1 loss Saturday night against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees are two games behind the AL East-leading Blue Jays, but Cashman is looking for more.
“We are keeping ourselves in the mix, but our job is to excel and pull away,’’ Cashman said. “Right now we are in the mix category. If I do my job, it will assist us to get into that higher category.’’
Sabathia made his first minor league rehab start Saturday night for Single-A Tampa against Dunedin in a Florida State League game. He went 2 ¹/₃ innings, allowed two runs, three hits, walked one and fanned two. Sabathia threw 36 pitches, nine short of the 45 manager Joe Girardi said the lefty was slated to toss. One of the hits was an infield single.
According to a scout on hand Sabathia pitched at 87- to 89 mph and reached 90 mph once.
“He was similar to spring training. [He had a] slurvy breaking ball and guided,” the scout said. “His cutter got hit.’’
The numbers were impossible to ignore, but for the second time in five games Girardi refused to be seduced by them and didn’t start Ichiro Suzuki against Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester.
“I looked at possibly sitting down one of the other [lefty hitters] against Lester,’’ Girardi said. “You look at [Jacoby] Ellsbury and he has had success and you look at Gardy [Brett Gardner] and he has been playing extremely well and important at the top of our lineup.
[Alfonso] Soriano has had a double and homer in two games he has played against him this year. Part of it is, possibly you would like to give one of your lefties a day off but it’s only the second day [after a day off] and I am going to play the guys we have been playing every day.’’
So, Ichiro took a seat despite having a .340 (18-for-53) average against Lester. That came after Ichiro wasn’t in the lineup Tuesday night in Toronto against lefty Mark Buehrle, against whom he was batting .421 (24-for-57).
Soriano went 0-for-3 and is now hitting .273 (6-for-22) against Lester. Ichiro pinch hit for him in the ninth inning and lined out to center.
Girardi was correct saying Gardner has been very important to the top of the lineup, but he is 3-for-13 (.231) against Lester after going 1-for-2 with a walk. Ellsbury went 1-for-3 and is 4-for-9 (.444) against his former teammate.
A regular player in the big leagues since 2001, Soriano has had trouble adjusting to not playing every day. His last homer was May 17 and he is without a homer in 62 at-bats.
Asked if it was hard to stay positive when the results aren’t there, Soriano leaned on the Yankees being in the thick of the AL East race.
“A little bit, but being in the position we are as a team makes it a little easier because we’re fighting and only [two games out]. That makes my mind a little bit more relaxed because we’re winning and we’re not far from first place,’’ Soriano said. “Try to do my job when I’ve got the time to play.’’
Pineda played catch Saturday in Tampa, tossing 25 times from 60 feet. According to the Yankees, the right-hander “reported no problem.’’
Pineda is on the DL with a terres major muscle injury and hasn’t pitched in any type of game since April 23. when he was ejected for lathering his neck with pine tar in Boston. That stunt got Pineda suspended for 10 games. During that ban, Pineda suffered the injury high on the right side of the back.
With the Red Sox’s John Farrell, the AL All-Star manager, in town, Girardi was asked if he spoke with him about possible Yankees being selected to play in the game next month in Minneapolis.
“I have not talked to him about it, usually they wait a little longer to call and ask you about your thoughts and who would be valuable to the team,’’ Girardi said. “It’s still a little bit early just because the fan voting is not done.’’
Derek Jeter (the AL’s leading vote-getter at short) the lone lock to make the team, but others, such as Masahiro Tanaka, Gardner, Ellsbury, David Robertson and Dellin Betances have chances.
Tanaka likely will be selected, but will not pitch because his final start before the All-Star break is Sunday, July 13, which makes him unavailable for the game on Tuesday, July 15.
Country music superstar Kenny Chesney was a guest of Cashman and spent time on the field chatting with members of the Red Sox and Yankees during batting practice.