Tanyon

Sturtze

The Dodgers are expected to decide soon what to do with Sturtze. They could call him up to pitch in middle relief. The Yankees likely would use him as their fifth starter until Jose Contreras returns.

The deal didn’t happen, but it still could. In the meantime, Sturtze seems to be in limbo.

He will get $850,000 next season and the Yankees will have a $1.5 million option for 2006 with a $150,000 buyout.

Both right-handers would be candidates for bullpen jobs if signed.

Sturtze is 3-0 with a 3.92 ERA since being sent to the bullpen May 15. He might get another shot at starting if the Jays become impatient with Mark Hendrickson.

X-rays did not reveal any fracture but the Yankees want to make sure that there is no break in Sturtze’s finger. The righthander was scheduled to start Thursday against the Orioles, but will not be available. Sturtze will likely return to the Yankee bullpen once Kevin Brown returns to the rotation.

That is, if he is not needed in the bullpen before then. Brad Halsey is on standby just in case.

Manager Joe Torre also didn’t want to use Tom Gordon. It was just the second time in 10 appearances that Sturtze had managed to pitch a scoreless inning.

''We just moved a couple of things around, and I felt like I got my arm slot right back where it needed it be,’' Sturtze said.

The move makes room for Koyie Hill on the 40-man roster. Sturtze will likely miss the rest of the season after surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff.