SAD NEWS: AARON BOONE ANNOUNCE LEAVING THE TEAM TO COACH ANOTHER TEAM TOMORROW……… READ MORE

TAMPA, Fla. — DJ LeMahieu took it slow. It was clear that as the New York Yankees’ third baseman performed light footwork drills in right field of an empty George M. Steinbrenner Field, his right foot was still in pain. On Saturday, he fouled a ball off the outside of his foot, and it’d even hurt him to walk. On Thursday, he didn’t hit, run or take grounders. It was clear that LeMahieu wasn’t going to rush his recovery.

LeMahieu’s injury was a major consideration in our latest Yankees roster projection as spring training nears its end.

We’re projecting a 10-day injured list stint for LeMahieu to start the season. That’s based on the Yankees’ history of treating injuries conservatively and through watching and talking to the 35-year-old the past few days in camp. We might be wrong. Injuries are tricky. But it may be trending that way.

To fill LeMahieu’s spot, the Yankees likely would stick with what they have. That probably means third base goes to Cabrera on Opening Day — even if the Houston Astros put Framber Valdez on the mound and Cabrera traditionally doesn’t hit lefties well.

LeMahieu was also the Yankees’ projected leadoff man. Judge should take his place on Opening Day. He’s the Yankees’ best hitter, a lefty will be starting and Judge has hit .352 with a 1.177 OPS in 36 career leadoff appearances. Volpe and Torres each could also be leadoff candidates.

Lefty Nestor Cortes/ will start on Opening Day. Wells caught his final spring training start. That seems like a sign that Wells will be behind the plate for Cortes. The Yankees could also flip Cabrera and Wells, depending on if Cabrera, a switch-hitter, decides to hit righty or lefty vs. Valdez. Cabrera has experimented with hitting left-on-left some this spring. — Kuty