BALTIMORE -- New York Yankees minor league pitcher Wilking Rodriguez, who was in major league camp this spring, has been suspended 80 games for performance enhancing drug use.
"It is not what you want to see," Joe Girardi said. "He threw the ball pretty well for us in spring training. It is not what you want to see. It is still what we are dealing with."
Girardi said during spring training meetings, the Yankees tell their players if there is something that you take that you are not sure is legal or not, ask the team to have it checked.
"It is a risk players take when they don't know what they put in their bodies or they take something they know is illegal and think they are going to get away with it," Girardi said. "I don't understand it, but that is the world we live in."
Rodriguez, 25, pitched four scoreless innings and picked up a win during the spring.
Gardner getting ready: Brett Gardner said his stiff right wrist is "going in the right direction." Girardi said Gardner should be available as a pinch-runner and maybe in the field, but not as a batter. Gardner is expected to be back in the lineup Friday in Tampa.
Gardner mentioned that he could have an MRI in Tampa on Thursday to double-check the injury, but nothing was set yet.
Moves: The Yankees called up righty reliever Branden Pinder and optioned Joel De La Cruz to Double-A Trenton. They outrighted Kyle Davies to Triple-A Scranton.
Rehab: Both Ivan Nova (elbow) and Chris Capuano (quad) are making progress in their rehabs. Nova is soon going to pitch in simulated games, while Capuano is set for a bullpen session on Thursday. They both could be back by June. Capuano might even return a bit earlier.
