Yanks Inbox: Will Bird be ready for opener?

How is Greg Bird’s shoulder? Will he be ready to start on Opening Day? — Luke F., Baldwin, N.Y.

That’s the plan. Bird just completed his second stint in the Arizona Fall League, testing out his right labrum after having season-ending surgery back in February. His offensive statistics weren’t great with Scottsdale, hitting .215 (14-for-65) with four doubles, a triple, homer and 10 RBIs, owning a .346 on-base percentage and slugging .354 in 17 games.

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That said, the numbers weren’t of great concern to the Yankees, who were just keeping their fingers crossed that Bird would be able to stay out of the trainer’s office. He passed that test with flying colors, and that encourages the Yankees that Bird will be ready for a Spring Training battle with Tyler Austin or whoever else they bring in to compete at first base.

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“Bottom line, he’s knocking the rust out,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. “It’s not about performance for him out there, it’s about just getting back in the batter’s box and getting his swing mechanics down, and seeing pitches and taking pitches.

“… All we care about is him having a full healthy Fall League, which he’s done. It checks the box and we’ll be looking forward to seeing him in Spring Training. All reports are he looks good. The stats don’t look good, but he does.”

Is Mike Napoli a free-agent target for the Yankees? — Thom W., Roosendaal, Netherlands

He could fit. They’ve got some additional dollars to play with following the Brian McCann trade with Houston, and Napoli would come much more cheaply — and for a shorter term — than someone like Yoenis Cespedes or Edwin Encarnacion. They’d be considering Napoli as a designated hitter who could play first base on occasion, which would be the reverse of how the Indians used him this past …

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