Posada: Contract situation won't affect Jeter's focus

TAMPA, Fla. - Jorge Posada doesn't expect Derek Jeter's contract status to negatively impact his longtime teammate this season.

"No problem," Posada said Wednesday morning. "I don't think he'll have any problems. Derek wants to come play. He's got a year left and he's going to honor that contract and he's not going to talk about it. He's probably going to talk to you guys once about it and that's it, knowing him."

Posada laughed when he said "once," obviously in the loop on what Jeter told a small group of reporters last week here: that he would address his contract situation once this spring, probably next week when position players report and the full New York press corps arrives.

"It's not going to affect him at all," Posada said. "He's happy here so hopefully we can get something done so he can stay. He belongs here."

Others in the final year of their contracts are Mariano Rivera and Joe Girardi.

Girardi said he didn't consider it unfair that he's managing the defending champions without an extension.

"I've said all along I'm one of 30 guys that has a job in the big leagues as a manager," Girardi said. "I consider myself pretty fortunate actually because I've been on both sides. I've been a manager and not a manager for a year and it's a lot better when you have a contract, so I feel pretty good about that."

Mum's the word

If Posada has a strong opinion on who should be the Yankees' fifth starter, he's keeping it to himself.

Asked if he had any thoughts whether Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes is best suited for the rotation, Posada smiled and said, "You're killing me."