Boone: Cole almost set to start throwing

PHOENIX – Gerrit Cole is close to throwing again, Aaron Boone said Tuesday. The right-hander, shelved by elbow inflammation midway through spring training, doesn’t have a date set in stone yet, but Boone said the ace is “moving in that direction.”

“Everything seems to be going well so far,” Boone continued.

Cole agreed with that assessment, replying “no” when asked if he still feels any pain in his elbow.

“I feel good right now,” he said, adding that he also didn’t have a day for the start of his throwing program.

While Cole hasn’t had any hiccups in is recovery thus far, he will still need some time to get ready for major-league games. Boone said the reigning Cy Young winner essentially needs to go through a full spring training routine, and Cole is on the Yankees’ 60-day injured list. That means he will be out until at least May 27.

Boone didn’t want to speculate on a timeline for Cole’s return.

Cole, traveling with the Yankees on their season-opening road trip to Houston and Arizona, has had to watch his squad’s early success from the bench. While he’d like to be contributing on the field, the Yanks’ fivegame winning streak (entering Tuesday) has made being stuck on the sidelines easier to stomach.

“We’re 5-0, so it hasn’t been that bad,” Cole said. “Obviously, you want to be out there, but just making the most of every day. Trying to figure out how we can help somebody get better or how I can help something, just positive.”

REHAB UPDATES

Boone said DJ LeMahieu (nondisplaced foot fracture) hit on the field Tuesday. The third baseman’s ability to move in the field is more of a concern than what he can do at the plate.

LeMahieu took grounders that were hit at him on Monday.

“They didn’t move him much,” Boone said, but he added that LeMahieu has been trending in the right direction over the last week. “Again, we’re gonna listen to the pain and listen to the foot and it’ll heal as we go.”

Boone also said Oswaldo Peraza (shoulder strain) will start throwing on today. He’s been hitting.

Finally, Boone said Jasson Domínguez (UCL rehab) has been going through his hitting progression and throwing from 120 feet.

RELIEF MOVES

The Yankees made a pair of moves involving relievers on Tuesday, first signing righthander Phil Bickford to a minor-league deal. The ex-Met reported to Triple-A.

Later, the Yankees traded Nick Ramirez to the Dodgers for cash considerations. The Yankees recently designated Ramirez for assignment.