Spring shutout streak in tact
approximately six weeks with a right shoulder strain. He hit a career-high 20 homers last season. Girardi mentioned his offense and defense, but also his strong relay throw ability. “We’re going to miss him a lot,” the manager said.
The Yankees have been linked to Nick Ahmed, Zack Cozart and Jose Iglesias, but the Daily News has learned they are unlikely to go outside the organization for Gregorius’ short-term replacement.
The internal candidates to replace Gregorius, whom the Yankees hope will return sometime in May, include Ronald Torreyes, Tyler Wade, Ruben Tejada and Pete Kozma. Starlin Castro could also shift from second to short.
The competition in the rotation remains wide-open. The spring ERAs from the five-man group: Chad Green (1.50), Adam Warren (3.09), Bryan Mitchell (3.86), Luis Severino (5.06) and Luis Cessa (6.52).
Jordan Montgomery, 24, a 6-foot-6 lefty prospect, will start for the Yankees on Thursday against the Rays in Port Charlotte. “I like him a lot,” Girardi said. “I think he's got really good downward angle. I think he's got deception. I'm very curious.”
“It’s possible,” Girardi added, that Montgomery could pitch his way onto the roster, as either a starter or reliever.
gleYBer’s gotta wait
The Yankees reassigned super prospect Gleyber Torres to minor-league camp after he hit a staggering .448 during the spring. The 20-year-old will open 2017 at Double-A Trenton.
“He was better than my expectations,” Joe Girardi said. “I knew that he was a good player, you just don’t know how a young player is going to do the first time in big-league camp. I was impressed by his maturity and his calmness when he plays the game. The game does not speed up for him. At least, it didn’t in anything that I saw. In that sense, it was better.”
Girardi told Torres: “Go play and tear up Double-A. Just do your thing.”
dallas a ‘great man’
Dallas Green, who managed the Yankees in 1989, died at the age of 82.
“I knew him from my days with the Cubs,” Joe Girardi said. “Obviously that’s very sad. He was a great baseball man, a great man and he’ll be missed.”
Green managed the Phillies to a World Series championship in 1980.
ref rumors
Rob Refsnyder has been the subject of trade rumors during the spring. Does he still have a role with the organization?
“I look at him at second first right and left, is how I look at Ref,” Girardi said. “Depending on what we do, that's why I talked about he can play his way in, and if he's an extra infielder and outfielder, whatever he is, then you might have to move Castro to play some short. If you give (Chase Headley) a day off and you move Torreyes over, then that would be Ref's spot at second. Those are the different options we have.”
YanK adviser on radio
Yankees special adviser Ray Negron has taken his talents to ESPN Deportes Radio 1050 AM, where he currently co-hosts “Impact” with Felix De Jesus every Saturday and Sunday from 12-2 p.m. “We want to appeal to young and old listeners,” says Negron. The show is primarily in English, although the hosts switch to Spanish when needed. This Saturday, Negron will have Hall of Fame Yankee Reggie Jackson, Chazz Palminteri and Hank Steinbrenner on the show.