YANKEE NOTES

TAMPA – Thanks to a winter of pumping iron, Alex Rodriguez’ chest looks like something out of an NFL locker room, say in the area of a strong safety. In fact, his whole body looks more developed than a year ago.

The 6-foot-3 A-Rod played last year at 210 pounds. Monday when he took a physical, he was 225 and said his body fat had been reduced.

“It feels better to be stronger,” said A-Rod, whose chiseled body has him hitting balls harder at this time than a year ago.

Whether that translates into more than the 36 homers he clubbed last year remains to be seen.

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Joe Torre refused to be drawn into a battle of words with former Yankee outfielder Kenny Lofton. When asked if he was aware of Lofton saying Torre broke a promise to rotate Lofton and Bernie Williams between center field and DH, that Torre didn’t want him to play and that he wasn’t liked by the Yankees, Torre refused comment.

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Randy Johnson and the other four starters will throw live BP today. It will be the first time hitters face pitchers after hitting off coaches and BP chuckers.

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GM Brian Cashman hasn’t had any contract extension talks with Arn Tellem, the agent for Hideki Matsui, who can be a free agent at the end of the season.

Torre mentioned he might play Matsui in center to give Williams a rest, and Matsui was open to the idea. Matsui was a center fielder in Japan.

“I would be happy to play there,” said Matsui, who started two games there a year ago. “I am so used to left field, but it would be nice to change up a little bit once in a while instead of left field all the time.”

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IF Felix Escalona picked up his visa yesterday in Venezuela and the Yankees expect him in camp later this week.