TAMPA, Fla. -- Derek Jeter will not appear in another Grapefruit League game this spring, according to general manager Brian Cashman, because the Yankees want to be able to backdate his injury if the shortstop must begin the season on the disabled list.

Jeter will be limited to playing in Minor League games for the remainder of the Yankees' time in Spring Training. Jeter is hopeful that he will be able to play on Opening Day, but if not, the Yankees can set the captain's earliest return for April 6, when the Yankees play at Detroit.

"I think we need to preserve the ability to backdate him in the event that he's not going to make it," Cashman said Thursday.

Teams can backdate the disabled-list assignments of injured players to a date 10 days prior to the season opener. If that were to happen in Jeter's case, he would be eligible to be activated after being out the first five days (four games) of the season.

Jeter, 38, had a cortisone injection in his surgically repaired left ankle on Wednesday and is expected to be unable to play for at least a few days, though he said on Thursday that if this were the regular season, he'd fight to be in the lineup.

"If it ain't broke, you can play," Jeter said. "So yeah, if I had to play, I would play."

Cashman said that "it's possible" Jeter will be ready for Opening Day. Jeter said that he believes the injection has helped the general soreness he felt near the front of the ankle, and that he has been assured what he is experiencing is normal.

"I wouldn't call it a setback," Jeter said. "It's what's ...