TAMPA - Asked independently why Josh Phelps' career has been uneven since he made a power splash in his rookie season with the Blue Jays in 2002, both Phelps and Yankee bigwig Mark Newman uttered the same answer:

"It's hard to say," each replied.

"If I could put my finger on it, we wouldn't be talking about it," Phelps said after a recent workout at the Yankees' minor-league complex. "When you're a young player, you're flying under the radar. Then everybody makes an adjustment."

The Yankees are the sixth organization since 2004 for the 28-year-old Phelps, who was a Rookie of the Year candidate with Toronto in 2002 after batting .309 and slugging 15 homers in just 265 at-bats. The Blue Jays once envisioned him as a mainstay, but now he is trying to prove he's still a threat.

Phelps began workouts at the Yanks' complex more than a week before position players are scheduled to report for spring training and could be part of the team's first-base platoon. Lefty Doug Mientkiewicz probably will play against righthanded pitchers and Phelps will compete with Andy Phillips to see who plays against lefties. Jason Giambi is slated to be the Yanks' full-time designated hitter.

The Yankees selected Phelps from Baltimore in the Rule 5 draft over the winter and figure he'd be well worth the $50,000 price tag if he remains on the active roster all season. If Phelps doesn't stay on their roster, the Yankees must offer him back to the Orioles for $25,000, so they're basically paying $25,000 for an extended look at him.

"He's put up decent number throughout his career," said Newman, the Yankees' vice president of baseball operations. "Our scouts still think he's a factor offensively. We certainly saw him hit. The ball jumps off his bat pretty well."

After his impressive debut, Phelps hit .268 with 20 homers and 66 RBI in 396 at-bats in 2003. But he also struck out 115 times. He went .251-17-61 in 2004 between Toronto and Cleveland and was nontendered by the Indians. He signed with Tampa Bay as a free agent, but was designated for assignment in June after hitting .266 with five homers and 26 RBI in 47 games and spent the rest of 2005 in the minors.

Last year, the 6-3, 225-pound Phelps did not play in the majors, but he hit .308 with 24 homers and 90 RBI for the Tigers' Triple-A team in Toledo. He was blocked at first base by Chris Shelton, a home run sensation in the first month of the season, and Dmitri Young and later by the Tigers' trade for veteran Sean Casey.

"The Tigers, they made the World Series, and I knew it would be tough to make that team," Phelps said. "In '05, I just didn't hit like I'm capable."

Newman guessed, "Maybe it's an approach mentally or confidence," when asked why Phelps hasn't blossomed after his early promise.

"You look at his swing, his swing looks fine," Newman added. "I don't think anyone knows. But you see enough that you like, you keep giving him opportunities. He's an impressive looking guy. He's still young. He comes to the plate and you think, 'Oooh, he's going to do some damage.'"

Phelps has a career .292 average against lefthanders with 21 homers in 400 at-bats. He's also clobbered the Yankees during his career - .318 in 107 at-bats, including a .523 slugging percentage, four homers and 28 RBI in 107 at-bats.

"I always hit pretty well against them," Phelps said. "This is an exciting opportunity for me. I was surprised when I was taken in the Rule 5 and then I talked initially to (GM) Brian Cashman and he said, 'Come in and compete and see what shakes out.'

"I'm healthy and ready to go. I'm ready to lay it all out."

Hey, if he can hit as well for us as he can against us I'm all for it. I don't expect much out of this guy regardless, but anything good would certainly be a pleasant surprise.