Girardi won’t stop Yankees taking a knee

TORONTO — Joe Girardi doesn’t plan on taking a knee for the national anthem like A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell did Saturday and Sunday, but the Yankees manager won’t get in the way of one of his players doing it.

“It’s not something I would choose to do, but it’s my opinion,” Girardi said. “I am entitled to my opinion and others are entitled to theirs. But it’s a player’s right. It’s the country we live in. It’s a player’s right.”

Girardi didn’t elaborate on why he wouldn’t do it but is aware the situation could seep into the Yankees clubhouse and divide players.

“Those are the concerns you have as a manager,” Girardi said. “If a player chooses to do that, how does it affect the team? There are other things in the game that affect the team, and that’s just part of my job.”

CC Sabathia, who didn’t want to comment on Maxwell’s action, said Saturday he wouldn’t go to the White House because of President Trump if the Yankees win the World Series and are invited.

Asked about the White House issue, Girardi said that decision rests with the player.

“That’s a choice the player makes,” Girardi said. “When we went there, whether you agree with the president or disagree with the president, I thought it was an honor to go.”

Aaron Judge said Maxwell taking a knee wasn’t a hot topic in the Yankees clubhouse.

“A lot of us saw what happened in Oakland, but we didn’t talk about it,” Judge said. “I am a baseball player, and my job is to focus on baseball right now.”

Girardi used David Robertson for the eighth inning Saturday and brought Dellin Betances into a 9-5 loss Sunday in the eighth.

“He threw strikes and that was important,” Gi- rardi said of Betances, who retired three of the four batters he faced. He hit Justin Smoak.

Betances has struggled with command lately. In his previous six outings, the right-hander walked six in 4 ¹/3 innings and gave up four hits and five runs.

Asked where he sees Betances in the bullpen, Girardi didn’t commit to a specific role.

“I don’t know yet,” Girardi said. “We still have a week to go. We will try to get him back on track and we will see.”