NEW YORK (AP) -Joba Chamberlain thinks he could return to the New York Yankees next week, and he expects to be used out of the bullpen.
On the disabled list with rotator cuff tendinitis, Chamberlain threw 45 pitches off a mound Thursday and said his arm felt good. His next step will be facing batters in a simulated game Saturday at Yankee Stadium.
If he feels OK following that session, the 22-year-old right-hander reasons he would soon be ready to come off the DL.
``We'll see how everything comes out,'' Chamberlain said. ``I think right after that we'll be ready to get going.''
With only a month left in the season and the Yankees desperately trying to get back in the playoff race, Chamberlain doesn't think he'll be sent out on a minor league rehab assignment before being activated.
Because of the way his rehab has progressed, he figures the club plans to use him as a reliever when he comes back.
Asked if he expects to return in a starting role, Chamberlain said: ``I wouldn't think so, just the way it has been. But who knows?''
Chamberlain moved from the bullpen to the rotation earlier this year. He left an Aug. 4 start at Texas with discomfort in his right shoulder and hasn't pitched since. He is 4-3 with a 2.63 ERA in 32 games this season, including 12 starts.
General manager Brian Cashman wouldn't discuss when Chamberlain might be ready to return or how he would be used, saying the team was taking the situation ``one step at a time.''
But, Cashman did offer this: ``Once you're in the batting practice arena, you're getting very close.''
Chamberlain expects to throw about 25 pitches Saturday, then sit down for a bit and return to the mound for more - simulating another inning.
As Chamberlain was answering questions in front of his locker, teammate Robinson Cano stopped by and playfully said, ``See you next year, Joba!''
The Yankees made a roster move Thursday to fortify their bullpen, purchasing Alfredo Aceves' contract from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Right-hander David Robertson was optioned to Triple-A.
Aceves, who had been starting in the minors, will be used in relief, manager Joe Girardi said.
``He's got good command of his off-speed stuff. He's moved fairly quickly through our system and people have been real high on him,'' Girardi said.
The right-hander chose to wear No. 91 because he liked the way former NBA star Dennis Rodman agitated opponents when he was with the Chicago Bulls.
``I'm not nuts,'' Aceves said. ``I'm excited to come here. It's a new experience.''
Robertson, who gave up a grand slam to Dustin Pedroia in Wednesday night's 11-3 loss to Boston, was 3-0 with a 6.31 ERA in 21 relief appearances for New York.
