Move over Mark Teixeira, David Robertson and Brendan Ryan, make room for Francisco Cervelli on the disabled list. And you might want to make room for others.
As expected, the Yankees put Cervelli on the 15-day DL Monday with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain. A Grade 1 strain is the slightest; Grade 3 the most severe. But, eventually, Cervelli could be headed to the 60-day DL.
The Yankees are likely to promote catcher John Ryan Murphy from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre instead of Austin Romine, who was with the club briefly last week and was Chris Stewart’s backup last season.
While the Yankees lost Cervelli they were fortunate frontline catcher Brian McCann didn’t suffer a broken index finger Sunday night when he was hit on the hand while catching. X-rays Sunday evening were negative. His status for Tuesday night wasn’t addressed by the club.
Joe Girardi expects Derek Jeter to return Tuesday night against the Cubs after missing games on Saturday and Sunday with a strained right quadriceps. Yet, if the 39-year-old shortstop isn’t right, he could miss a third straight game.
The manager wasn’t as sure about second baseman Brian Roberts, who was scratched Sunday night with a lower back problem. He underwent an MRI exam that didn’t unearth any structural damage. In the past four years, Roberts has been limited to 192 games because of injuries.
With Teixeira on the DL thanks to a balky hamstring, Cervelli had been backing up Kelly Johnson at first. Sunday night, when he suffered the injury running to first, Cervelli was playing first base.
Since the Yankees have maintained no interest in free-agent infielder Stephen Drew since he turned down the Red Sox qualifying offer, they could elevate infielder Scott Sizemore, 29, from Triple-A. But while he has major league experience, it’s at second and third base, which leaves the Yankees naked behind Johnson until Teixeira returns. That could be as early as Sunday if he doesn’t suffer a setback. Teixeira could possibly begin a minor league rehab assignment with the extended spring program in Tampa on Thursday.
When Cervelli went down Sunday, Girardi had to choose between outfielders Ichiro Suzuki and Carlos Beltran to play first base in the final five innings of a 3-2 victory over the Red Sox. Girardi went with Beltran because he presented a bigger target.
Yet, Beltran spent his time at first pleading with God to keep the ball away from him, and Ichiro said if Girardi asked him to play first he would have told the manager his leg hurt.
Sizemore, who missed all of 2012 and played just two games in 2013 because of a knee injury, was in spring training with the Yankees and has a May 1 out in his contract if he isn’t in the big leagues. He could also serve as insurance for Yangervis Solarte, who caught a glove in the groin Sunday night running the bases but vowed to play Tuesday night. In 10 games for SWB, Sizemore is batting .344 (11-for-32).
Sizemore and Triple-A first basemen Russ Canzler and Corban Joseph aren’t on the 40-man roster, which is full. Shifting Ryan (neck) from the 15-day DL to the 60 could open a spot on the 40. So, too, could putting Cervelli on the 60-day list.
Also Monday, the Yankees optioned right-handed reliever Shane Greene to SWB. Greene was promoted last week when Romine was sent back and gave the Yankees 13 pitchers, a luxury they can’t afford after Sunday night’s injuries hit.
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