Francisco Cervelli (Charles Wenzelberg)
WON’T PLAY BALL: Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli, working in the bullpen yesterday in Tampa, would not go into detail about his link to Biogenesis, a Miami anti-aging clinic. (Charles Wenzelberg)
TAMPA — While Francisco Cervelli understands his visit to the Biogenesis anti-aging clinic in 2011 was a mistake, the catcher refused to go into detail about what went on inside the Miami facility.
Cervelli, who said he was looking for help to heal an injured foot, said Biogenesis founder Anthony Bosch was recommended to him by an unnamed doctor, not by a player or an agent. Cervelli said he received information about therapy from Bosch, but yesterday avoided detailing what type of therapy was recommended.
Cervelli said he didn’t receive therapy from Bosch. He did admit to using supplements acquired from the clinic, but believed they aren’t on MLB’s banned list.
“I left there with nothing in my hand,’’ Cervelli said of the clinic that is being investigated by the feds and MLB. Alex Rodriguez, who Cervelli said didn’t recommend Biogenesis to him, has been linked to the clinic. Rodriguez has denied being involved with Bosch.
“I went there and had questions,’’ Cervelli added.
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Cervelli, the front-runner to be the Yankees’ regular catcher, said he wasn’t offered performance-enhancing drugs at the now closed clinic. He also said he never has used PEDs. And if MLB wants him to be part of its investigation he is willing to talk.
“I called doctors in Venezuela and went [to Biogenesis] about therapy and that’s it,’’ said Cervelli, a native of Venezuela. “I can’t say a lot of things right now. I believe [MLB] has an open investigation right now so I don’t have a lot of things to say.’’
Several times yesterday morning talking outside the Yankees’ clubhouse at George M. Steinbrenner Field, Cervelli deflected questions about his involvement with Biogenesis by referring to the statement he made last week when it was first reported he visited the clinic.
“Following my foot injury in March 2011,” he wrote then on Twitter, “I consulted with a number of experts, including Biogenesis Clinic, for legal ways to aid my rehab and recovery. I purchased supplements that I am certain were not prohibited by Major League Baseball.”
With Cervelli fighting for the starting catching job, manager Joe Girardi will watch for signs Cervelli is bothered by the situation.
“I will watch him play games and if I feel he is distracted will say something,’’ Girardi said. “Today, he looked good to me.’’
Cervelli said the supplements didn’t help and he regrets visiting the clinic.
“I didn’t know what kind of clinic it was. I take my responsibility, nobody put a gun [to] my head,’’ said Cervelli, who was represented by Seth and Sam Levinson of ACES but left them because he believed the Levinsons had too many catchers in the Yankees’ system. They also represented Jorge Posada, Jose Molina and Jesus Montero. SFX now represents Cervelli.
Levinson clients Gio Gonzalez and Melky Cabrera are also linked to Biogenesis. Last week Seth Levinson issued a statement.
“Anyone who knows us, knows that it is absolutely ridiculous to think that we would ever condone the use of performance enhancing drugs. Our work over the last 25 years demonstrates that ACES is built on a foundation of honesty, integrity, and doing things the right way. Neither Sam nor I, or anyone else at ACES, have ever met or even heard of Anthony Bosch until the recent news stories, nor does anyone have any knowledge of or connection to Biogenesis.’’