Pettitte: Jeter's contract won't be distraction

TAMPA, Fla. - Two weeks ago Derek Jeter said he would address his contract situation just once this offseason and he would do so when most of the full media contingent arrived in spring training.

That day has arrived. Jeter will meet with reporters this morning before the Yankees' first full-squad workout at Steinbrenner Field.

Jeter, like Mariano Rivera and manager Joe Girardi, is entering the final year of his contract. The Yankees as a general policy let contracts expire before negotiating new deals.

"I think he'll be fine," Andy Pettitte said Tuesday. "I don't think he'll pay a whole lot of attention to it. I think he knows the way it is here and as far as when it's your contract year, the Yankees wait for you to become a free agent. I think he's seen all of us kind of go through it."

No one thinks it will become a distraction for Jeter, and Girardi has no plans to address it, with Jeter or Rivera. "If I think it does become a distraction I'll say something to him but when you look at Derek, he's handled everything with grace and professionalism and I don't expect him to handle this any different," Girardi said.

Pettitte's not concerned about what Yankees fans consider a worst-case scenario. "It's probably a foregone conclusion he's going to be a New York Yankee," Pettitte said. "It's just a matter of getting the deal done whenever he's a free agent . . . I wouldn't think - and I haven't talked to him about it at all so I wouldn't know - it would be too much of a distraction to him at all."

Eyes elsewhere

Girardi said he did not watch Pettitte throw his first bullpen Tuesday, choosing instead to watch the catchers.

"I wanted to watch them to make sure that they didn't try to go 100 percent the first day they threw to bases," Girardi said. "I told them that was my sole reason for being there, to make sure you take it easy."

Pettitte, who at the suggestion of Girardi and pitching coach Dave Eiland didn't start throwing until mid-January (he usually starts Jan. 1), said he was glad to be back on the mound.

"It's good to get going," Pettitte said. "I felt good. Arm feels good."

Tex approves

Mark Teixeira was a teammate of Chan Ho Park with the Rangers (2003-05) and said the pitcher is a good pickup. "He's got great stuff," Teixeira said. "I really did not enjoy facing him the last couple years so I'm glad he's on our side."

Extra bases

Girardi said righthander Christian Garcia was held out of the workout because of a "tender elbow" but is expected to throw todayWednesday . . . Alex Rodriguez was in the clubhouse briefly and plans to address to the media tomorrowThursday.