BOMBERS’ FIRST

Austin out six weeks with toe

TAMPA — Tyler Austin was hoping to make the Yankees’ 25-man roster. It won’t happen. Austin suffered a small break in the navicular bone on his left foot during batting practice earlier this week and will probably need six weeks before he can return, Joe Girardi said Friday.

An MRI taken in the morning confirmed the injury, which occurred when Austin fouled a ball off his foot. He complained of soreness Thursday, and X-rays were negative.

“It’s unfortunate,” Girardi said.

It essentially means Austin will miss the entire spring, although his chances of making the team were remote anyway. He will be in a boot for three weeks and then do rehab exercises in the pool.

Austin had arrived in Tampa early, was working hard and taking reps at four different positions (1B, 3B, LF, RF) to win a job. But Greg Bird is the favorite to start at first while the addition of veteran Chris Carter, who hit 41 homers last season, takes away one more roster spot.

Austin was going to compete with Bird, who did not play in 2016 due to a shoulder injury, at first. He does have minor-league options still, and could become a factor later in the year should injuries arise.

“I’m just going to try to come in and try to make the team any way I can,” Austin had said Monday.

Austin hit five home runs in 31 games (.758 OPS) after his promotion late last season — including one in his first MLB at-bat — and showed strong opposite-field power. Utility man Rob Refsnyder now gets an opportunity to showcase what he can do.

Also on the injury front, Mason Williams’ left patellar tendinitis has returned and he’ll be out two weeks, Girardi said. The hope is that it eventually goes away, and the Yankees are being cautious at this point.

TAMPA − Alex Rodriguez will be back Tuesday. The retired Yankees third baseman-turned $21 million instructor will be in Tampa at spring training on Feb. 21, the Daily News confirmed. ARod is expected to be an instructor for three days.

Hal Steinbrenner said Wednesday that he could envision A-Rod’s role within the organization expanding.

“We haven’t talked about that, and obviously he’s been doing more broadcasting as well and he’s got other things going on in his life,” Steinbrenner said. “But the more he’s involved, he’s been absolutely tremendous with the young players - always has been - and we’re going to continue to talk about different ways he can be involved.”

MAKING THEIR CASE

Dellin Betances’ camp and the Yankees each made their cases Friday at an arbitration hearing.

Betances has been away from the team while working out on his own until its conclusion.

Betances filed at $5 million while the Yankees countered at $3 million.

SWISH IS DONE, BRO!

Nick Swisher, who will serve as a Yankees special instructor for the first time during spring training, officially announced his retirement on the Players’ Tribune. Swisher wrote that he will work as a studio baseball analyst for Fox Sports in 2017.