A-Rod could get Sunday off

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Joe Girardi said in spring training that a big part of his job this season will be keeping Alex Rodriguez on the field. And part of that occasionally will be keeping the third baseman off it.

Girardi, who had Derek Jeter at designated hitter Saturday night, said he might give A-Rod the entire day off Sunday. "Three days in a row on turf? I worry about some of our guys on that, especially early on,'' he said. "I'll see how he feels and make a decision tomorrow."

Keeping the left side of his infield healthy will be a challenge, given that Jeter turns 38 in June and A-Rod turns 37 in July. Both players spent time on the disabled list last season, with Rodriguez especially nicked up. Three injuries -- knee, shoulder and thumb -- limited him to a career-low 99 games. Said Girardi, "We have to be smart about it."

Swish, Granderson flippedAgainst lefthander David Price, Girardi moved Nick Swisher up to second and dropped Curtis Granderson, who occupied the two-hole pretty much all of last season, to sixth. He said it's something he might do against lefthanded starters all season. "It's something we're going to consider," he said. "It makes sense to us."

Girardi said that although Granderson did well against lefties last season -- hitting .272 with a .347 OBP and hitting 16 of his 41 homers -- he likes Swisher's career on-base percentage (.405) against them.

He added, "It's something where we can split up our lefthanders as well."

Girardi also said that even though Brett Gardner wasn't in the lineup Saturday night -- Andruw Jones started in left -- he will play against some lefties.

Grandy shiftTampa Bay overshifted against Granderson in the opener -- a surprise to some but not to Granderson. In 2011, he saw it from the Rays as well as, at times, the White Sox, Blue Jays and Orioles. "You just have to stick with your approach," Granderson said. "You have to find other holes out there."

Logan OKLefthanded reliever Boone Logan, who tweaked his back last Tuesday and walked awkwardly as a result the next day, said he told Girardi he was good to go for the opener. But Girardi had lefty Clay Rapada up in the bullpen Friday and used him Saturday night. He was charged with two runs and allowed two hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. "I figured I'd give him one more day," Girardi said of Logan. "I think we all remember how we saw him on Wednesday."

Extra basesGirardi said Michael Pineda (right shoulder tendinitis) will play long toss, starting Sunday, twice in three days . . . Expect catcher Chris Stewart to start Sunday or Monday . . . Andy Pettitte still is scheduled to start an extended spring training game Monday at the Yankees' minor-league complex.