BRADENTON – When Todd Pratt went down with a bruised left heel it was easy to predict that Wil Nieves had seized control of the race to be Jorge Posada’s backup. However, as Pratt is ready to return, Nieves is down.
Pratt, who caught Carl Pavano in a bullpen session yesterday at Legends Field, is close to playing in a game for the first time in a week.
Nieves is the only candidate among Pratt, Ben Davis and Raul Chavez on the 25-man roster.
He was taken for an MRI yesterday after complaining of tenderness in the right elbow.
“It’s not swollen but he felt something during infield [Friday] and didn’t think anything about it,” Joe Torre said.
“[Yesterday morning] he said he was tender.”
Pratt was signed to a minor-league contract after Chavez broke his left hand playing winter ball.
With 12-years of big league experience he would be the logical choice to back up Posada if Nieves has a serious problem.
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With Reggie Jackson watching, Bobby Abreu hit off a batting tee after starting with several dry swings.
Abreu has been shelved since the start of camp with a strained left oblique muscle that is threatening to keep him from being in the Opening Day lineup.
“That went well,” Torre said of the tee work.
“He will probably do flips [today].”
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Eric Duncan‘s two-run, pinch-hit homer in the ninth inning lifted the Yankees to a 5-3 win over the Pirates at McKechnie Field.
The Yankees improved to 8-1.
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Chien-Ming Wang and Robinson Cano are expected to sign contracts today and avoid being renewed.
Wang will make slightly more than $500,000 and Cano will be paid $490,000. If the players don’t sign they run the risk of being renewed at lesser money.
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Instead of traveling to Fort Myers to face the Red Sox tomorrow night, Andy Pettitte will throw a simulated game at Legends Field earlier in the day.
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Wang starts today against the Indians at Legends Field.