TAMPA Kevin Long Jersey , Fla. (AP) —during his first batting practice session since a heart procedure in December.Sabathia, expected to miss his first two or three regular-season starts, is slated to throw a simulated game Saturday.The 38-year-old, who is retiring after the season, had a stent inserted Dec. 11 after a blockage was found in an artery from his heart. He has had chronic right knee problems that required several operations.“He’s really responded well to everything,” Yankee manager Aaron Boone said. “He’s doing well.”Sabathia also is suspended for five games for hitting Tampa Bay’s catcher Jesus Sucre with a pitch on Sept. 27.The 2007 AL Cy Young Award winner with Cleveland, Sabathia is 246-153 with a 3.70 ERA and 2,986 strikeouts in 18 major league seasons. He was 9-7 with a 3.65 ERA in 29 starts last season. This will be his 11th year with the Yankees.Center fielder Aaron Hicks http://www.nationalsfanproshop.com/authentic-matt-adams-jersey , who hurt his back during batting practice March 1, got a cortisone shot Monday. Boone said there is still enough time for Hicks to be ready for opening day.“There’s a level of concern but I’m not too worried about it,” Boone said.Acquired from Minnesota in November 2015, Hicks has been on the disabled list in all six of his big league seasons, nine trips in all for hamstring strains (three times), oblique strains (twice), shoulder, forearm and intercostal strains Ryan Zimmerman Jersey , and a concussion.Hicks agreed to a $70 million, seven-year contract last month.TRAINER’S ROOMOF Jacoby Ellsbury (plantar fascilitis) is expected to arrive Sunday. He has been rehabbing in Arizona after not playing last season due to a variety of injuries. “He’s going to be way behind,” Boone said. … SS Didi Gregorius, out until the summer after Tommy John surgery, will start hitting off a tee in the next couple weeks.PAXTON POWERJames Paxton threw a dominating five-inning, 78-pitch simulated game. The lefty recorded three strikeouts and got a grounder from Troy Tulowitzki. Paxton is to start the Yankees’ second regular-season game with Baltimore.TANAKA TIMEYankees opening-day starter Masahiro Tanaka is scheduled to start Wednesday night’s game against Philadelphia. Bryce Harper is expected to start in right field for the Phillies in his third spring training game since signing a $330 million, 13-year contract. NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets said they’ll give $100,000 retention bonuses to six players at spring training with minor league contracts http://www.nationalsfanproshop.com/authentic-matt-adams-jersey , assuring depth by keeping outfielders Carlos Gomez, Rajai Davis and Gregor Blanco, left-hander Hector Santiago, catcher Devin Mesoraco and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria.Just three other players received the retention bonus offers before Saturday’s noon EDT deadline: Chicago White Sox right-hander Ervin Santana, San Diego catcher Chris Stewart and Toronto right-hander Bud Norris.Players will receive the bonus by April 15 and can start the season in the minor leagues. A player has until May 28 to ask for his release if not added to the 40-man roster by June 1.The deadline was Saturday for teams to make decisions on players who exercised free agency rights after the World Series and then agreed to minor league deals. Teams could inform the player they will be added to the big league roster by opening day next Thursday, offer the retention bonus or release the player.Texas told Logan Forsythe, Jeanmar Gomez and Hunter Pence they will make the opening-day roster, and Pittsburgh notified Melky Cabrera and left-hander Francisco Liriano.Other players told they’ll make the opening-day roster include Detroit second baseman Gordon Beckham Bryce Harper Jersey , Miami outfielder Curtis Granderson, Cincinnati shortstop Jose Iglesias, San Francisco outfielder Gerardo Parra, Colorado first baseman Mark Reynolds and St. Louis catcher Matt Wieters.Released players may re-sign with the same teams or elsewhere. Players released from minor league deals they signed as free agents included shortstop Alcides Escobar and outfielder Eric Young Jr. (Baltimore); right-hander Junichi Tazawa (Chicago White Sox); right-hander Tyler Clippard, infielder Ryan Flaherty and outfielder Matt Joyce (Cleveland); right-hander Randall Delgado and outfielder Brandon Guyer (White Sox); catcher Bobby Wilson (Detroit); right-hander Daniel Hudson (Los Angeles Angels); right-hander Josh Tomlin (Milwaukee); left-hander Tim Collins, first baseman Lucas Duda and infielder Adam Rosales (Minnesota); catcher Drew Butera and infielder/outfielder Andrew Romine (Philadelphia); outfielder Cameron Maybin and catcher Rene Rivera (San Francisco); right-hander Jason Hammel (Texas) and right-hander John Axford (Toronto).