Source: New York Times

TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 23 — The Yankees’ starting outfielders have combined for almost 5,000 career games in the major leagues and Japan. Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon and Bobby Abreu will all be 33 by midseason, and they all could use a break now and then.

When injuries forced outfielder Melky Cabrera into a regular spot in the lineup last season, he responded by hitting .280 in 460 at-bats.

“Someone that plays 162 games a year has a chance of being good,” Damon said Friday. “But I think a player who plays 145 or 150 games has a chance to be great. Knowing there’s one day a week when you don’t have to mentally get prepared for a game, players are so much better.”

That is one reason Damon was so pleased this winter when the Yankees kept Melky Cabrera. When Damon needs a day off, Cabrera can fill in.

The Yankees considered trading the 22-year-old Cabrera for bullpen help and bringing Bernie Williams back as the reserve outfielder. There was some sentiment to trade Cabrera while his value was high. But Cabrera also has value to the Yankees, and he went nowhere.

He has come a long way from last spring. Just how far is reflected in the tone of the Yankees’ message to him from one camp to the next.

Last spring, Manager Joe Torre saw Cabrera as a talented player with an uncertain work ethic. This spring, Torre trusts Cabrera and said he would try hard to find him regular playing time.

“We nudged him last spring early on,” Torre said. “He was someone that we knew had tools, but it just looked like he was really not applying the tools. We had a meeting with him, and you didn’t have to tell him twice. He got your attention in the spring, and when we had a problem, we never hesitated as far as where we were going.”

The Yankees turned to Cabrera when Matsui and Gary Sheffield were injured early in the season, and he responded by hitting .280 with a .360 on-base percentage in 460 at-bats.

Cabrera showed a surprisingly sophisticated approach to hitting, with 56 walks to only 59 strikeouts, and his presence gave the lineup a jolt.

“I love having him in the lineup,” Damon said. “The spark and the happiness he takes to the field are pretty cool.”

Matsui is back and Abreu came over in a trade with the Phillies last July, but the Yankees want to play Cabrera enough to make sure he keeps improving. When the exhibition season starts next Thursday, Cabrera will be busy.

“We had a meeting with him today, actually, just to let him know what our plans were, and the fact that he’s got to come to the ballpark thinking he’s a regular player every day,” Torre said.

“The only difference is he’ll get time at all three outfield positions, make road trips and D.H. on the road to get used to pinch-hitting. Even though he’s not a D.H., you can sort of simulate that by using the designated hitter as a pinch-hitter four times a game.”

Torre said he was still trying to decide on a target number of at-bats for Cabrera. Damon said he would like the switch-hitting Cabrera to play 120 games — he played in 130 last season — to help the Yankees clarify their future plans.

“There are very important decisions to make after this year,” Damon said. “Bobby has an option, and right now we have three left-handers out there full time. There are a lot of things that can happen in this game.”

Interestingly, Damon mentioned that center fielders Andruw Jones and Torii Hunter would be free agents after the season. Damon plays in center now, and he is signed through 2010. But before the Yankees decide whether to pursue Jones or Hunter, they may need to see more of Cabrera in center field.

“On any other team, Melky could be a starter right now,” Damon said. “There’s just not a spot for him here, but we’ll find a way. We need to see if he can develop to be a decent center fielder. We know he can do it in left and right. But center is what needs to be seen.”

Cabrera played winter ball in the Dominican Republic last month and said he did not worry about the trade talk surrounding him then. Through an interpreter, he said his role would be up to Torre.

“I’m going to be satisfied with what the manager says, and be prepared when I have an opportunity to do the job,” Cabrera said.

Much like last season, Cabrera can usually be found in the clubhouse near second baseman Robinson Canó, who is also Dominican. Canó is further advanced as a hitter, but they seem to bring the same intangibles to the team.

“Leche, he plays hard and he has fun, man,” said Derek Jeter, referring to Cabrera by the Spanish word for milk. “He and Robby are very similar. They go out there and enjoy themselves. You like to see that. You like to see people enjoying themselves and playing hard, appreciating that they’re on the field and not taking it for granted.”

INSIDE PITCH

The relievers threw batting practice Friday, and Joe Torre was pleased with his inventory. The Yankees acquired the right-handers LUIS VIZCAíNO and Chris Britton in trades over the winter and did not lose any relievers who pitched more than 18 games. “We have more depth now in an area that certainly doesn’t hurt,” Torre said. “We went to the well with some arms last year, and you pay the price for that.”