MINNEAPOLIS — While Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Eduardo Nunez and Curtis Granderson continue to progress toward coming off the disabled list, Francisco Cervelli suffered a setback.
“He has a stress reaction in his throwing elbow,’’ general manager Brian Cashman said of the catcher, who is in Tampa rehabbing from a fractured right hand. “We are going to shut him down for two weeks. It’s from an old injury and the elbow is sore. He will be shut down for two weeks and we will evaluate after that.’’
Cervelli, who stopped catching in simulated situations this week, underwent an MRI exam that uncovered the stress reaction. There are circumstances where a stress reaction is related to bone chips.
The latest setback likely will delay Cervelli’s return to the big leagues at least until Aug. 1, manager Joe Girardi said.
Cervelli has been out since April 27 with the fractured right hand. In 17 games (16 starts) he is hitting .269 with three homers and eight RBIs.
Chris Stewart has filled in well, but the Yankees miss Cervelli’s bat. Stewart is hitting .238 with three homers and 13 RBIs in 54 games (47 starts). Austin Romine, who started yesterday’s 9-5 win over the Twins and went 0-for-4 with a run scored, is hitting .136 (9-for-66) with two RBIs in 30 games (22 starts).
* In an effort to rebuild their pitching situation the Twins are expected to listen to offers for 32-year-old first baseman Justin Morneau, who will be a free agent following the season.
With Phil Hughes making $7.15 million and on the verge of free agency, he isn’t a match.
Ivan Nova would be more attractive to the Twins, but with Hughes expected to leave and Andy Pettitte and Hiroki Kuroda possibly retiring, the Yankees have to protect themselves.
The left-handed hitting Morneau, who makes $14 million this season, is hitting .284. He homered twice yesterday.
Ideally, the Yankees would like to add a right-handed bat and they have an interest in 36-year-old Phillies corner infielder Michael Young, whom the Red Sox also covet.
Young has a no-trade clause in the contract that pays him $16 million this year. The Rangers are paying $10 million of Young’s salary.
* After not starting a game against a right-handed pitcher since June 16 (eight games) Vernon Wells had no trouble with Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson yesterday.
Wells went 2-for-4, doubled home two runs in the first and drove in another with a single in the third.
* Kuroda will have his left hip flexor muscle examined by a doctor today. An MRI exam this week showed no tear and the Yankees are hopeful the 38-year old right-hander can avoid the DL.
Kuroda was scheduled to start tonight against the Orioles, but was scratched. He has been pestering the Yankees to rejoin the rotation.
“Not [tonight], but shortly after that,’’ Girardi said of Kuroda’s pleas to work.
* According to pitching coach Larry Rothschild, Michael Pineda (right shoulder) will make his fifth minor league rehab start tomorrow for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Pineda’s 30-day rehab assignment is up July 9. After that the right-hander has to be added to the big league roster or optioned to the minor leagues.
* Nunez played for Double-A Trenton last night, going 0-for-5 with two strikeouts in a 5-4 loss to Reading. According to Girardi, the shortstop is getting closer to coming off the DL.
“I think it’s possible we get him before the [All-Star] break,’’ Girardi said of Nunez, who has been out since May 5 with a strained left oblique muscle. “It depends on how he feels and how ready he is.’’
* Mariano Rivera wasn’t scheduled to pitch yesterday after posting saves in the previous two games — even though he threw just two pitches Tuesday.
“I got to believe Mo will be in his rocking chair,’’ Girardi said of the gift the Twins gave Rivera that was made out of broken Minnesota bats.