TAMPA, Fla. (AP) – Derek Jeter wasn’t about to get involved in the sniping between the Boston Red Sox and Alex Rodriguez.

Boston pitcher Curt Schilling criticized A-Rod during the offseason, and Rodriguez said last month the talk was “going to give us great motivation to beat him up in the future.” On Tuesday, Boston outfielder Trot Nixon praised Rodriguez’s playing ability but said: “He can’t stand up to Jeter in my book or Bernie Williams or (Jorge) Posada.”

“I’m not getting into a war of words with them,” Jeter said Wednesday. “That’s between Trot and Alex. You ask Trot what he meant.”

Rodriguez has not yet arrived at spring training and has not responded to Nixon.

“I’m sure he’ll address it,” Jeter said.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman didn’t think the Red Sox were trying to get to Rodriguez, a player they tried to acquire from Texas in December 2003.

“I just think that’s how they feel. He’s a lightning rod for a lot of things that took place for them last winter,” Cashman said.

Posada and Boston closer Keith Foulke also declined to discuss Nixon’s remarks.

“I’m definitely not getting into a verbal war with a guy who’s probably a lot smarter than me,” Foulke said.

Yankees manager Joe Torre had a unique take on it.

“I don’t know Trot Nixon other than he made the difference in our not winning last year when he made that catch,” Torre said.

With the Yankees ahead 4-2 in Game 5 of the AL championship series last October, Nixon made a sliding catch on Hideki Matsui’s sinking drive to right field with the bases loaded. Boston won 5-4 in 14 innings, pulling to 3-2 in the series. The Red Sox went on to win the next two games, becoming the first major league team to overcome a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series, then swept St. Louis for their first World Series title since 1918.