Major League Baseball

Soriano misses 3rd day with flu

Published Feb. 22, 2014 4:24 p.m. ET

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TAMPA, Fla. (AP) New York Yankees outfielder Alfonso Soriano has missed his third straight spring training workout due to the flu and will be evaluated on Monday.

The Yankees, without Soriano on Saturday, were limited because of rain to an early simulated game for fifth starter candidate David Phelps and live batting practice that included top pitching prospect Manny Banuelos, who is coming back from elbow ligament replacement surgery.

''Still not doing well,'' Yankees manager Joe Girardi said of Soriano. ''We thought he was getting better, then last night he got worse again.''

The 38-year old Soriano had a combined 34 homers and 101 RBIs last season with the Yankees and Chicago Cubs, who traded him to New York on July 26.

Phelps went 6-5 with a 4.98 ERA in 22 games, including 12 starts last year, a season in which the right-hander missed 62 games with a strained right forearm.

Michael Pineda, sidelined the past two years following right shoulder surgery, and Adam Warren are also in the mix for the final rotation spot behind CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda, Ivan Nova and Masahiro Tanaka.

''You have limited control over things,'' Phelps said. ''If I go out and do my job then I feel I put myself in a good position but I can't affect how other guys are throwing. I'm going to cheer them on because the better they do the better it is for our team. So it's good that we're pushing each other. Go out there and see what happens.''

Banuelos threw 25 pitches. The left-hander sat out last season.

''Obviously missing a year, you're going to be rusty, but I thought the ball came out of his hand great,'' Girardi said.

The Yankees' starting position players worked out in an indoor cage and did not hit on the field.

NOTES: Spring training instructor Jorge Posada arrived. ... RHP Jim Miller (calf), LHP Nik Turley (arm tightness) and OF Tyler Austin (right wrist) didn't work out and will be evaluated in a couple days.

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