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A-Rod works at first for Yankees

 
Practicing at first base for the first time, Alex Rodriguez, center, flips the ball to Yankees pitcher Danny Burawa, right.
Practicing at first base for the first time, Alex Rodriguez, center, flips the ball to Yankees pitcher Danny Burawa, right.
Published Feb. 28, 2015

TAMPA — Stripped of his job at third base, Alex Rodriguez moved across the diamond and worked out at first base for the first time with the Yankees.

Rodriguez fielded grounders and took part in various drills including bunt defense Friday during New York's second full-squad workout.

Asked whether he felt comfortable at first, Rodriguez said: "Too quick to tell. I'm anxious to learn, though."

Suspended for violations of baseball's drug agreement and labor contract, Rodriguez missed all of last season and is trying to return. Manager Joe Girardi and GM Brian Cashman say Chase Headley will be their starting third baseman and Rodriguez will compete for at-bats at designated hitter.

Having Rodriguez spell Mark Teixeira at first base sometimes would give Girardi flexibility. A-Rod will begin early workouts today.

"As we go through these drills, it's important that he's gets over there and tries to get a better understanding of what the position is," Girardi said. "It's going to take some time. He'll study it, he'll watch it. It's just his nature. Hopefully it comes fairly easy for him."

More work: CC Sabathia threw 41 pitches during his third bullpen session of the spring. The 34-year-old left-hander was hobbled by a degenerative cartilage problem in his right knee last season and didn't pitch after May 10. He had surgery in July.

Blue Jays: Saunders has surgery on knee

DUNEDIN — Blue Jays LF Michael Saunders had surgery on his left knee and could return to the team sooner than previously expected, perhaps in mid April.

Saunders tore cartilage Wednesday when he stepped on a sprinkler while shagging flyballs on a side field at spring training. He was originally projected to be out until mid July.

GM Alex Anthopoulos said Saunders could be sidelined only five to six weeks.

"We'll see how he recovers," Anthopoulos said. "The fact that he's going to walk out of there (the operating room) today is great, and he'll be running hopefully somewhat soon."

Phillies: Billingsley on long road back

CLEARWATER — Chad Billingsley took another step toward again starting MLB games. After pitching what amounted to two simulated innings with a short break in between, the veteran right-hander said his arm felt great.

Before he can pitch in Grapefruit League games, Billingsley, 30, needs to pitch to live hitters in batting practice. That could happen in 7-10 days. His next bullpen session is slated for Monday.

"I think I'm ahead of schedule, honestly," said Billingsley, working his way back from shoulder surgeries in each of the past two years. "I didn't really know where I was going to be because, I mean, when I got down here and discussed the whole plan, it was mostly kind of playing it by ear."

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Billingsley, who signed for one year and $1.5 million, has started two major-league games since 2012. The longtime Dodgers pitcher underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2013 and a right flexor tendon operation last June.