Joe Girardi says Mets' success not a motivating factor for Yankees

Joe Girardi arrived in the Great Hall at Yankee Stadium Tuesday morning, ready to join about 300 volunteers in assembling care packages for armed forces personnel overseas. The Yankees manager would like his own care package with the personnel additions needed to get to where the Mets just went.

The Mets could stake their claim to ownership of the city with their World Series run.

"Every year, that's going to be a debate," Girardi said at this annual Yankees / USO event. "The bottom line is we live in a great baseball city. You have two teams that there are high expectations. which I think is great. The play on the field determines which team is playing the latest and who's talked about the most."

Girardi indicated the Mets' success hasn't increased the Yankees' desire to return to the World Series, saying the motivation isn't needed "from outside sources," that it's there regardless. The Astros made the Yankees a one-and-done, 87-win team last month.

"We were one of 10 teams to make the playoffs," Girardi said. "You look at our series with the Mets -- I know it's during the regular season -- and Kansas City, we played pretty well against those clubs. I think we have to try to make a few tweaks and we've got to try to stay out of that one-game playoff so your full team can take effect."

The addition of a righty bat could be a good start.

"I think balance is extremely important in a lineup," Girardi said. "Obviously, we had switch hitters in the lineup. We lost a big one in [Mark Teixeira] down the stretch, and that was something that hurt us against lefthanded pitching. But I think a righthanded bat can help."

Closer Andrew Miller's name has been floating around as possible trade bait even though he teamed with Dellin Betances and Justin Wilson to give the Yankees a formidable threesome in the bullpen.

"Yes, that was the strength of our club," Girardi said. "Those guys pitched extremely well and were dominant. If we had the lead after six innings, we won ballgames. But if we feel it will improve our club, I'm sure we'll try to make a deal."

Girardi said he has spoken to CC Sabathia since his recent alcohol rehab stay.

"He sounds great," Girardi said. "Obviously, I'm proud of how he stepped up and went and got help."

General manager Brian Cashman hasn't guaranteed Sabathia a rotation role, but Girardi said: "If he's pitching the way he was at the end of the year . . . I see him in our starting rotation. Obviously, there are going to be a number of people vying for those five spots."