A-ROD INSIGHT
Hal picks Rodriguez’s brain on personnel, ‘excited’ for season
TAMPA — Alex Rodriguez met with Hal Steinbrenner on Thursday, a get-together that the Yankees’ managing general partner called “a good meeting.”
A-Rod, a guest instructor at Yankees camp, chatted with Steinbrenner in his office at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
“[I] wanted to get his take on some of our young players, and the team in general,” Hal Steinbrenner wrote to The Post in an email. “We are all excited for this year and the years to come!”
Rodriguez, who arrived on Tuesday, had said he wanted to meet with Steinbrenner to plan his schedule for the season. While A-Rod has technically agreed to be an instructor/ advisor only for 2017, the last season of his 10-year, $275 million contract — he’s earning $21 million as a released player — there is a clear appetite from both sides to continue the relationship into the future. ARod also plans to speak with the YES Network about a broadcasting role.
While A-Rod initially said he would stay for three days this week and then return in March, he said on Thursday that he would report to the ballpark Friday and stick around for the beginning of the Yankees’ Grapefruit League opener against the Phillies.
Having arrived in camp late due to the birth of his second daughter, Jacoby Ellsbury won’t be in the lineup for Friday’s game.
“Everyone will be in there but Ells,’’ manager Joe Girardi said of his regulars.
Short on outfielders, the Yankees are going to take a look at infielder Tyler Wade in the outfield during the exhibition season. However, infield prospect Jorge Mateo, who played center briefly in the instructional league, won’t be used in the outfield.
“In talking [within] the organization, we would like to get him more work out there before we put him in a game.’’ Girardi said. “He has all the tools to play out there but here you will see him at short and second.’’
Highly regarded shortstop prospect Gleyber Torres will play short and second, according to Girardi. Playing time at short is available because Didi Gregorius is leaving for the WBC.