While the Yankees would prefer that Alex Rodriguez plays with a hip injury, manager Joe Girardi said surgery before opening day remains an option for New York's third baseman.

"Ultimately it comes down to Alex. What he feels is best — get the information, talk about it as an organization," Girardi said yesterday in Tampa, Fla. "Talk about it with Alex, and ultimately he has to make the decision. It's a tough decision no matter what."

Rodriguez had additional tests on his injured right hip in Colorado yesterday, according to team co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner. The tests were designed to determine strength and flexibility now that a cyst in the hip has been drained.

A day earlier, general manager Brian Cashman said Rodriguez will attempt to play with a torn labrum and avoid surgery and a four-month rehabilitation period.

The cyst was drained Wednesday.

PHILLIES

UTLEY CLOSE TO RETURN

Chase Utley's recovery from offseason hip surgery is nearly complete.

Philadelphia's All-Star second baseman continued his daily routine yesterday and, barring a setback, should see action in his first Grapefruit League game in the next two weeks.

Before the team's "B" game at Bright House Field, Utley took part in fielding and batting practice. With opening day a month away, Utley is one step from returning to game form.

"Playing at game pace — that's the last thing," he said yesterday. "The only way you can really mimic that is playing in a game. We've made some progressions over the next week that are going to try to mimic that as best as possible."

ELSEWHERE

World Classic: Lee Jin-young hit a grand slam in a six-run first today to power Olympic champion South Korea to a 9-0 win over Taiwan at Tokyo. Kim Tae-kyun drove in a pair of runs with a single and Lee gave South Korea a 6-0 lead with a towering blast to right field. South Korea will face Japan today with the winner qualifying for the second round. Japan defeated China, 4-0, on Thursday in the opening game.