On the field, the biggest controversy thus far in Yankees camp is who will be the No. 5

starter. They have to decide between Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain, one starting and one

working out of the bullpen. And neither did much in his first start of the spring to help that

decision along. But that's not even close to the real story that's lingering in Tampa.

This is the final year of Derek Jeter's contract. And Mariano Rivera's. And Joe Girardi's.

The Yankees don't negotiate during the season — and they're not planning any exceptions

this time either.

Jeter addressed the issue when he got to camp and pointedly announced he will not address

it again. His 10-year, $189 million contract runs out after the season and he almost certainly

would rate No. 1 on the team's pecking order, ahead of the Hall of Fame-bound closer and the

manager who directed the team's 27th World Series title.

Jeter is 35 and long-term, big-money deals for players that age are becoming dicier all the

time. As the New York Times pointed out last week, only two teams have ever made the

postseason with a shortstop 37 or older who played 100 games: Pee Wee Reese's 1956 Brooklyn

Dodgers and Larry Bowa's 1984 Chicago Cubs.

Still, it seems impossible to imagine Jeter (or for that matter, Rivera) in another

uniform. Jeter was as good as ever last season, even improving his defensive play at a time

when the stat geeks of the world insisted he was falling apart. (I say use the eye test,

people. Quick now: Was Jeter good or bad last year? Thought so).

"I've said from Day One, this is the only organization I've ever wanted to play for, and

that's still true," Jeter said. "I was a Yankees fan growing up. This is where I want to be.

I've never envisioned myself playing anywhere else, and hopefully I don't have to."

It will be interesting to see what the Yankees do. Alex Rodriguez is signed through age 42

at $27.5 million per season. Will the team put Jeter in that category too? Especially if they

win the World Series again this season, do the Yankees have any other real choice?

Things are a little different for Rivera. He turned 40 in November. A long-stated career

goal was to pitch in the new Yankee Stadium and he accomplished that last season. It's

unlikely he'd get more than a two-year deal, but he's already said this spring he's going to

come back. And many observers think he'd take big money from someone else (maybe Joe Torre's

Dodgers?) if the Yankees don't ante up.

General Manager Brian Cashman quickly moved to quell the talk-radio uproar in New York last

week, insisting things will be handled at the appropriate time and that he's certain all three

men aren't too concerned about their deals being a distraction.

"I don't think there's any sweat off any of these guys' backs," said Cashman. "They've been

Yankees for life, and that's what we intend to see happen. But again, you start those

conversations at a different time and place that you feel is more appropriate. ... I think

these guys are pretty secure in their abilities, their knowledge of how we feel about them,

the place they want to be."

More Mets mess

Here's an injury the Mets didn't have last year: Francisco Rodriguez has been kept away

from the team's camp for a few days because he came down with pinkeye. Anyone with kids knows

how contagious that can be so the team was quick to try to prevent an outbreak. Now if they

were only that quick to act on Carlos Beltran's knee or Jose Reyes' leg.

(I'll give them a pass for now on Reyes' thyroid problem that cropped up Friday. One question:

Don't they have precamp physicals?)

Speaking of the Mets, the next big story of their spring is Tuesday's game against Houston.

That will be Johan Santana's first start since undergoing season-ending elbow surgery in

September. Assuming all goes well — obviously a big assumption when it comes to the Mets

— Santana is slated to be the team's Opening Day starter.

Tweet, tweet

If you were a fan of MLB Network's reality show "The Pen" last season that followed the

Phillies' relief corps, you'll have a new one to look forward to this summer. It's called "The

Club" and will follow the Chicago White Sox for an inside look at a major-league front office.

Featured will be owner Jerry Reinsdorf, GM Kenny Williams and manager Ozzie Guillen. Hope

the folks at MLB have their finger on the bleep button with the often-profane — and

hysterical — Guillen. There will be no mute button, however, on Guillen's newly created

Twitter account and Williams is a little concerned about that.

"No comment ... and make sure you write that it is a no comment with a head shake from side

to side," Williams told reporters at Chicago's camp in Glendale, Ariz.

Guillen said he understands his boss' issue but said it shouldn't be anything to worry

about.

"I'm not stupid enough where I will say, "We're going to make a move today.' ... That's not

the idea," Guillen said. "The Twitter is like what I am doing today, have fun with it. It's

all personal."

Guillen's account (www.Twitter.com/OzzieGuillen) has more than 33,000 followers as of

Friday and has been benign as promised so far. He's talked about things like meals, a

conversation with Nolan Ryan and getting two GPS units stolen from his Glendale garage ("I

thought Venezuela was dangerous wow.")

He even wished his wife a happy 27th anniversary in true Guillen fashion — "wow cant

believe she has stuck with my [bleep] this long..hahah."

Herd opens house

If you're looking to get a baseball fix, the Bisons' annual Family Day Open House at Coca-

Cola Field is always a good time. The free event runs Saturday from noon-3 p.m. (doors open at

11 a.m. for season ticket-holders). Among the highlights are children's shows, video games,

and tours of the clubhouse, press box and suites.

The team will also put individual tickets on sale for all games. Fans making a $5 donation

to WNY United Against Drug & Alcohol Abuse get a free ticket to any game from April 15-18.