TAMPA — The way Francisco Cervelli is hitting, he’s on his way to finding a new baseball home.
Cervelli bashed two home runs Wednesday in a 7-7, 10-inning tie with the Tigers at George M. Steinbrenner Field and is batting .500 on the spring.
With Brian McCann the Yankees’ starting catcher, Cervelli’s trade value continues to rise.
As for the possibility of getting traded, Cervelli said, “That’s something I can’t control. I’m here. This is my house right now today and I don’t know what happens tomorrow. I hit. I catch. I do anything they say. If somebody wants me, I have to make the adjustment. My dream is to be a starting catcher.’’
After last season’s disaster, Cervelli is looking for a new lease on his baseball life.
Cervelli broke his hand on a foul tip last April 26 and later was suspended 50 games in the Biogenesis scandal.
“It was a year you want to forget,’’ Cervelli said, noting he learned a lot. “I had a lot of time to think about everything, I slowed down everything, I feel better catching. I feel better hitting. So many things.
“I learned to put my hand behind me,’’ he added with a smile.
The Yankees always seem to make a move that curtails Cervelli’s playing time.
“When they call me to the office that’s scary,’’ Cervelli said with a smile. “I’m going to hide right now.’’
Of his two home-run performance, Cervelli noted, “That’s really good, that’s the first time in my life so I think I am going to sleep well tonight.’’
Shawn Kelley threw a scoreless inning of relief. He has come back from two Tommy John surgeries and feels for Braves pitcher Kris Medlen, who is headed for a second Tommy John surgery.
“There was a time when I thought ‘Why me?’” Kelly said, “and you feel sorry for yourself but at the same time you can approach it as I’ve been through this before, I’ve come back, I know what I have to do to get back.
“I wasn’t ready to end my baseball career.’’
The Yankees have signed all 40-man non-arbitration players, including Eduardo Nunez ($576,900 if in majors), David Phelps ($541,425) and Michael Pineda ($538,475). … Before the game, the Yanks optioned LHP Nik Turley and OF Slade Heathcott to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and C Gary Sanchez to Double-A Trenton.
Joe Girardi tried his first umpire challenge of the spring and lost, a play on which Brian Roberts was clearly out at first base on a ground ball to second in the seventh. This was a practice challenge for Girardi, just to get the feel of the rule.
Roberts joked, “I went back where I belonged.’’ That would be the dugout after the call.
Additional reporting by Joel Sherman