Joe Girardi doesn’t expect to have Curtis Granderson back for the series that starts tomorrow against the Dodgers, but the Yankees manager wouldn’t rule out a Granderson return in San Diego on Friday.
Granderson has missed more than two months with a fractured left pinkie, which occurred after just eight games following his return from a fractured right hand.
He plans on playing another rehab game for Double-A Trenton tomorrow.
“I’m getting better,” said Granderson, who has been out since May 24. “I’d love to [join the Yankees in San Diego]. Hopefully, if things continue to move well and progress the way that we all hope they will, and I continue to play and I feel good, it’s a possibility. And I’m glad they’re eager to get me back, and I’m excited to get back sooner rather than later.”
Granderson went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts as the DH yesterday in Class-A Tampa’s 8-2 loss to Charlotte at Steinbrenner Field. Granderson is 2-for-13 in four games with Tampa, and he plans on working out at the team’s minor league complex today.
“We’re pleased with the progress he’s making, so I don’t think you’ll see Granderson in Los Angeles, obviously, but we’ll see after that,” Girardi said.
* Granderson will likely be joined in Trenton tomorrow by David Phelps, rehabbing his right forearm strain. … Jayson Nix (right hamstring) is expected to be activated for tomorrow’s game after David Adams was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre yesterday.
The right-hander said he expects to throw five innings or 75 pitches as he continues to build up arm strength.
“It feels good,” said Phelps, who would likely need one more start before being ready to start in the majors. “We’re just going start-by-start.”
He also knows there’s not much room for him with the rotation the way it stands at the moment.
“Our guys are throwing great,” Phelps said. “It’s not hard to look at our team and realize our staff is full right now.”
“It’s felt good for a while,” said Nix, who has reported no setbacks.
* David Cone was surprised about Tino Martinez’s fate in Miami, where he resigned as hitting coach yesterday after reportedly being accused of physically abusing Marlins’ players.
“I just heard briefly,” Cone said of his former teammate after broadcasting yesterday’s game on the YES Network. “I’ve never seen him do anything like that.” Ichiro Suzuki’s four hits tied his high as a Yankee, matching his output from last Sept. 19 against the Blue Jays.
— Additional reporting by Fred Kerber