by PETER BOTTE, NEW YORK DAILY NEWS , The Star-Ledger

With starting right fielder Xavier Nady likely X-ed out of the plans for the season, the Yankees added a versatile piece to their bench by acquiring longtime AL East foil Eric Hinske from Pittsburgh yesterday for two low-level minor-leaguers.

The small-market Pirates, who will receive Class-A righthander Casey Erickson and outfielder Eric Fryer in the deal, even will pick up an undisclosed portion of the remainder of Hinske's $1.5 million contract this season.

"We feel (Hinske) can play first (base), third, left (field) or right for us. He can come off the bench and pinch-hit if we need that, which he's done numerous times in this division. He's been on playoff teams and World Series teams, and we think he can add a lot to our club," manager Joe Girardi said before last night's series opener against Seattle. "We think he just gives us some versatility."

Hinske, who won't be activated until today due to weather-related flight delays last night, won the AL Rookie of the Year award with Toronto in 2002. The lefty swinger also was a member of the Red Sox's 2007 World Series championship team and a veteran presence for Tampa Bay last season during the Rays' unlikely march to the AL pennant.

Joe Girardi may play Alex Rodriguez in all seven games on this week's homestand, but the Yankees manager still insists that he will rest the recovering third baseman if and when he believes he needs a day off.

A-Rod was back at third base last night following Monday's day off, but Girardi said he might use him as a designated hitter once or twice this week to take some stress off his surgically repaired right hip if he opts not to give him an entire game off.

"We're going to play it by feel and by ear, watch him and listen to him," Girardi said. "We have four day games in a row, so there's a good chance I could give him off in one of those if we feel he physically needs it."

Rodriguez will have at least one day off during next week's three-game series in Minnesota, not wanting to play him three straight days on the Metrodome's artificial turf.

After nine straight games as a pinch hitter, Hideki Matsui returned to the lineup last night as the DH against the Mariners.

"It was a tough stretch of games for him," Girardi said. "He did a really good job as a pinch hitter and we tried to get him as many at-bats as we could."

Mariano Rivera threw out the ceremonial first pitch before last night's game, honoring his 500th career save. ... Nick Swisher spent a few hours at a local hospital yesterday to treat a left ear infection, but he returned to the Stadium in time for batting practice and remained in the lineup. ... Cowboys QB Tony Romo was at the game last night, accompanying a sick child on the field for BP.

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