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Yankees Insider: Joe Girardi not in a rage over A-Rod's age

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One year ago, Joe Girardi’s initial spring press conference was dominated by questions about Alex Rodriguez, who was returning from his one-year drug suspension.

What a difference a year makes.

Thursday, the manager fielded only one question about A-Rod, who returns at 40 looking to give the Yankees another solid season in the designated hitter spot.

“We expect him to be productive,” Girardi said. “I think when you get to the age that he’s at, though, every year people are going to ask: is there going to be a decline? If he gets off to a slow start, is this it? I saw it happen with Derek (Jeter), and I’ve seen it happen with a number of players that you have to deal with, but that’s all part of being an older player.

“With a young player you have to deal with, is he ready, or do you think he’s going to handle this situation? As an old player, is it the end? Are we seeing a real decline? Those are the questions you have to answer. But he’ll be ready.”

Rodriguez isn’t the only veteran player with something to prove. Mark Teixeira must show he can play an injury-free season, while Carlos Beltran is looking to avoid the dreadful start he experienced last year.

Girardi said getting his veterans ample rest will be an important factor in the team’s success.

JOE AND JACOBY
After benching Jacoby Ellsbury in the AL wild-card game last October, Girardi said he didn’t think he needed to mend fences with the outfielder, though he would do so if he felt it was necessary.

Girardi started Chris Young in left field against lefty Dallas Keuchel, giving Brett Gardner the nod in center and sending Ellsbury to the bench in the win-or-go-home contest.

“Maybe he wasn’t as big a free-agent signing as Jacoby Ellsbury, but Brett Gardner has been extremely productive in his career when you look at it,” said Girardi, who spoke with Ellsbury during the offseason. “That was a hard decision. I was going to disappoint someone immensely no matter if I sat Jacoby or I sat Gardy. It was a choice I made.”

RESTED DELLIN
After facing workload issues in each of the last two seasons, reliever Dellin Betances took more time off from throwing this winter than ever before. His two-month break was the longest off-season rest of his career.

Betances, who usually doesn’t throw for four weeks, hopes it leads to his arm feeling fresh all season. Betances, an ace setup man who’s made two consecutive All-Star teams, has logged 70 and 74 games in the last two seasons, totaling 174 innings.

“Just trying to give the arm a little break and try something, I guess,” Betances said. “But I feel good and ready to go.”

Asked if he needed a break last year, Betances replied, “No. Obviously, I think everybody feels tired toward the end. It’s a long season. And for me, last year, it was a little different than the first year because last year I pitched from the beginning.

“The first year, I wasn’t a part of the rotation in the bullpen until May, like mid-May. Last year was from the beginning to the end, so hopefully I’m able to start strong and finish strong (this season).”

LUIS’ LIMIT
Luis Severino’s 161.2 innings between the majors and minors last season were nearly 50 more than he threw in 2014, but Girardi said he doesn’t envision much of an innings limit for the righthander, who turns 22 on Saturday.

“I think he’s a guy that can handle 200 innings,” Girardi said.

The Yankees could use a starter with that type of workload; CC Sabathia led the team last season with 167.1 innings pitched.

TAKE FIVE
Speaking of Sabathia, it has been widely assumed that he and Ivan Nova will compete for the No. 5 starter job this spring. Girardi didn’t dismiss that idea, though he pointed out that these competitions typically have a way of working themselves out.

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