Derek Jeter returns to play shortstop, but Joe Girardi still concerned

MINNEAPOLIS -- Joe Girardi said he hasn't seen Derek Jeter limp "the last few days," obviously a good sign.

But that doesn't mean Girardi thinks Jeter, who was back in the field at shortstop Monday night, is past the bone bruise in his left ankle that's troubled him in recent weeks. "I think it's a little better but my fear is, it's just that one step that sends him back to where he was," Girardi said.

A step that can occur at any point in a game.

"I cringe every time he hits a ball in the hole," he said. "You hope the [fielder] doesn't get to it because it's that one time he's going to kill himself trying to get to first base."

Jeter singled in the ninth inning last night to extend his hitting streak to 18 games.

Tex in Tampa

Mark Teixeira (left calf strain) did a full workout, including running the bases, in Tampa but Girardi still isn't sure the first baseman will return to the lineup during the four-game series in Toronto that starts Thursday.

"The concern is that you rush him, he has the one play and then you know he's done for the season," Girardi said.

The Rogers Centre turf, a concern even when players are healthy, also could push Teixeira's return back to the final series at home against Boston.

Extra bases

Righthanded reliever David Aardsma, signed with an eye toward 2013 as he spent much of the last year recovering from Tommy John surgery, is with the team here and said he expects to be activated today. Such a move would necessitate a move to the 40-man roster, though Girardi didn't sound so sure the reliever would be activated right away. "It's something we have to talk about," he said . . . Girardi said "I would hope" Brett Gardner would be activated before the Toronto series, which would require another move to the 40-man roster . . . Ichiro Suzuki was named AL player of the week after hitting .600 (15-for-25) with two homers, five RBIs, seven runs and six stolen bases in six games.