SARASOTA, Fla. — Jay Bruce has an opt-out looming on March 25.
But the Yankees outfielder/first baseman turned in another effort Saturday night toward not having to make much of a decision at all.
Adding to his case to make the Yankees’ 26-man roster, Bruce provided further proof he was healthy when he made a sliding catch on the run in left field during a 2-1 loss to the Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium.
“I take a lot of pride in my defense,” Bruce said. “I feel very good. My body physically feels great. I’m in a good spot.”
As for the opt-out in his contract, Bruce said the decision wasn’t entirely up to him.
“I am the wrong person to ask when it comes to whether or not it’s going to be a difficult decision,” said Bruce, who is now batting 6-for-26 with two home runs in 11 games. “I don’t really have control over that. I know that I came to spring training physically ready to go. I feel like I’ve shown that I’m capable of handling multiple positions. My swing feels good.
“So we’ll see in five days. I don’t know. I’m eager to find out. My goal is to continue to get ready for the season and I hope to help the club.”
Giancarlo Stanton’s return to the outfield won’t come in spring training. Yankees manager Aaron Boone last month opened the door to the slugger getting some action in the outfield this season, but Stanton said Saturday that it wasn’t going to happen before the team breaks camp.
“During the season, that is the plan,” Stanton said. “But as the discussions went on, me and Boonie talked about how I’ll be needed later, in the first month or two. So now isn’t as important to just be ready to go during the season, a few weeks in.”
Stanton said that getting game action in the outfield this spring wouldn’t be of great use if he wasn’t going to play there in a game right out of the gates in the regular season.
“If I go in there now and then I don’t go out there for three or four weeks, it’s the same as making sure I’m ready to go during practice,” Stanton said. “So that’s the thought to that.”
Mike King, after striking out six and allowing a run in four innings of Saturday’s start, said his goal this season is to pitch 100 innings with the Yankees — regardless of how they come.
“I don’t care where they are, whether they’re starts, piggybacks, long relief, whatever it is,” King said. “But I think if I can contribute 100 solid innings to this team, I think it would be very beneficial for this season.”
Clint Frazier was originally scheduled to make the trip and play in Saturday’s game, but the Yankees held him back in Tampa. The left fielder tweeted that he was “fine.”
