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LAKELAND, Fla. — The first free-agent signing the Yankees made this past offseason was getting Joely Rodriguez back.
The left-hander, who arrived from Texas in the same deal with Joey Gallo last July, is expected to be an important piece of the bullpen, especially with Zack Britton likely out for most of the season while recovering from elbow surgery.
So it was a bit eye-opening when Rodriguez took the mound in Thursday’s seven-inning 5-3 loss to the Tigers in a game that was shortened by rain, hitting only about 90 mph on the radar gun.
“It’s something to watch,’’ manager Aaron Boone said after Rodriguez allowed five runs — and two homers — in just two-thirds of an inning.
Rodriguez typically hits the mid-90s, and Boone said after the game that’s where he’s mostly been this spring.
Asked if velocity has been an issue for Rodriguez in the early part of camp, Boone said, “It hasn’t. It caught my attention.”
Pitching coach Matt Blake went out to the mound to make sure Rodriguez was healthy, and the Yankees hope the dip was the result of Rodriguez being forced to sit down after he’d warmed up because of a sudden storm that stopped the game briefly in the sixth inning.
“He said he felt fine,’’ Boone said.
Rodriguez pitched in 21 games for the Yankees following the midseason trade and was solid after struggling with Texas.
He is expected to be in a bullpen this season with fellow lefties Wandy Peralta and Lucas Luetge, as well as Aroldis Chapman, who is expected to pitch in his first Grapefruit League game of the spring on Friday in Clearwater, Fla., against the Phillies.
Manny Banuelos is another lefty candidate for the bullpen, as he attempts a comeback.
Due to the MLB lockout, teams will be able to have two more roster spots to start the season, which are likely to be used on pitchers.
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