ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. —  Yankees reliever Rafael Soriano tested his right elbow in a bullpen session prior to Monday night’s game against the Rays at Tropicana Field and reported the stiffness that bothered him Saturday after pitching Friday night remained.

“He still feels stiffness, we are trying to figure out what the next step is,” Yankees PR head Jason Zillo said.

Until appearing in Friday night’s 5-4 loss to the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Soriano hadn’t pitched since the previous Sunday in Texas.

He underwent an MRI exam early in the week that didn’t reveal structural damage.

“I got to see how he feels (Tuesday),” Joe Girardi said before Soriano threw the bullpen session.

Signed to handle the eighth-inning role after leading the AL in saves with 45 for the Rays last year, Soriano has been a disappointment so far. In 16 games, he is 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA and has allowed 26 baserunners (15 hits; 11 walks) in 15 innings.