DUNEDIN, Fla. — The Yankees may just want to break camp now, a week early, and wrap their players in bubble wrap until Opening Day.
Paul Goldschmidt exited Monday’s game against the Blue Jays after two at-bats and 2 ½ innings because of a sore back that he has been dealing with for a few days.
The 37-year-old first baseman said he has “zero” concern about being ready to start the season on time in 10 days, but decided to play it safe on Monday.
“Wasn’t really any worse today, it was just one of those things where, just kind of thinking you don’t want it to get worse with a week or so to go,” Goldschmidt said during a 6-5 loss at TD Ballpark. “Should be fine.”
The first two innings Monday were long ones, which meant plenty of standing around for Goldschmidt. A
aron Boone indicated that was part of his calculus in taking the veteran out of the game early.
“Nothing I don’t think that’s anything too big,” Boone said.
Goldschmidt was already going to be off on Tuesday, after playing back-to-back days, but Boone expects to have him back in the lineup on Wednesday night against the Braves.
The Yankees have been ravaged by injuries this spring, and while the biggest punches have come to their pitching staff, they are also set to begin the season with Giancarlo Stanton (tennis elbows) and DJ LeMahieu (calf strain) on the injured list.
Through 13 games this spring, Goldschmidt is 10-for-32 (.313) with a 1.077 OPS.
“This was kind of taking a few days and not really getting worse, but obviously still something that was there, thinking, ‘Is this really the time to try to push it?’” Goldschmidt said. “I think the answer’s no.”
