TAMPA — Jay Bruce had until midnight Thursday into Friday to use the trigger date in his minor league deal with the Yankees, as it becomes more clear the team won’t put him on its 40-man roster.

His contract states he can request the Yankees make him available to the other 29 teams in the majors, and they would have 48 hours to put him on their major league roster.

Aaron Boone said Thursday the Yankees hadn’t made any final decision regarding Bruce, but he noted the 33-year-old won’t play while his future is uncertain.

“He’s gonna stay away here until we make a decision,’’ Boone said.

After a hot start to camp, with two homers and a double in his first five games, the lefty-swinging Bruce has struggled. He’s hitless in his last 16 at-bats with seven strikeouts.

If no team takes on Bruce and the $1.5 million the Yankees agreed to pay him if he’d made the big league roster by Saturday, Bruce — like every veteran with at least six years of major league service on a minor league contract — must be offered a $100,000 retention fee. If given, it obligates the player to accept a minor league designation until June 1 (unless the player has contractual outs before then).

The Yankees have used Bruce at first base and in the corner-outfield spots, but they face a numbers crunch with their 26-man roster and still like Mike Tauchman’s ability to play all three outfield positions and are confident he can get back to where he was in 2019 offensively.

As for Bruce, Boone said, “We feel like he’s healthy. His swing is in a pretty good place. … He’s impacted a number of balls and shown everything, I think, we could have hoped for when we brought him in.’’

It has been an unusual spring training due to COVID-19 protocols that have limited the amount of players in camp and cut down on travel.

With the lack of split-squad games, the Yankees took a unique approach to getting Jordan Montgomery work on Wednesday, when the left-hander pitched live batting practice to some of the Phillies at their complex in Clearwater, Fla.

The left-hander threw five innings and 74 pitches, facing J.T. Realmuto, Didi Gregorius, Rhys Hoskins, Andrew McCutchen and Jean Segura, among others.

“It was a little weird, but it made it more like a game,’’ said Montgomery, who threw to Kyle Higashioka, with bullpen coach Mike Harkey looking on. “I got some good work in against some good hitters.”

Other Yankee starters have thrown live BP in Tampa to keep them on schedule, but Montgomery believed it was beneficial for him to face batters from another team.

“I didn’t have to worry about throwing my cutter,’’ Montgomery said. “You don’t want to throw a cutter into a guy and break his hand, especially if it’s your teammate. It definitely let me be more aggressive and go out there and compete.”

He figures to get one more outing in before the regular season begins. Boone hasn’t announced a rotation order beyond Gerrit Cole going on Opening Day.

Boone said he views Deivi Garcia and Domingo German as starters, meaning it’s unlikely either would shift to the bullpen if they’re not in the rotation. Given Garcia’s recent command issues and dip in velocity, coupled with German’s excellent work throughout the spring as well as the health and performance of the other members of the rotation, Garcia seems headed to the alternate site when the season begins.

Thursday night’s starter, Michael King, though, could end up in the bullpen.

“I feel like he could be a starter in this league, but I do feel there’s also a role for him, potentially, in the bullpen, as well,” Boone said.

The rotation could get a boost sometime around midseason, with Luis Severino’s expected return from Tommy John surgery rehab. Boone said the Yankees have the right-hander’s progression mapped out over the next few months and he continues to look good, although he’s yet to throw anything but fastballs.

Severino will start throwing breaking pitches “pretty soon,’’ Boone said.

Clarke Schmidt still hasn’t resumed throwing after being shut down last month with a common extensor strain in his right elbow.

“There’s a little bit of discomfort in there still,’’ Boone said.

Schmidt won’t throw “until he’s completely asymptomatic, which we’re hoping is imminent and any day,’’ Boone said.

Boone scratched the idea of getting Giancarlo Stanton a game in the outfield this spring.

“I made the decision and talked to him about it last week,’’ the manager said.

Boone noted the fact the Yankees have plenty of healthy outfielders and Stanton wouldn’t be needed there at least for the first few weeks of the season.