ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Brian McCann is eligible to come off the seven-day concussion disabled list on Saturday, but the catcher won’t play against the Rays at Tropicana Field.
“We are shooting for Sunday,’’ said McCann, who underwent a test Friday that will be compared to the impact test he took earlier in the week in New York.
After resting for three days and riding a bicyle, McCann got on the field for the first time since suffering the concussion Aug. 8 when he took a foul tip off his mask.
“Today was the first day I got on the baseball field,” McCann said before the Yankees’ 5-0 loss to the Rays. “I am really happy with the way today went.’’
McCann said he felt good after the workout and was headed to the clubhouse to find out the results of the impact tests he did in New York this week. Joe Girardi erroneously said earlier this week McCann passed those tests, but corrected himself Friday and said McCann only took the tests.
“I never thought I would come out of a game because of a foul tip,’’ said McCann, who explained he had a concussion in 2008 when he was run over on a play at the plate. “The way it hit me it was definitely the hardest I have ever been hit.’’
Cuban free agent Rusney Castillo is sifting through bids from teams that have been coming in since his July 26 showcase in Miami.
The 27-year-old infielder/outfielder hopes to play in the big leagues this year, but for that to happen he needs to get signed and play in minor league games because he hasn’t played in an organized game in more than a year.
The Yankees, Red Sox, Tigers, Cubs, Mariners and Phillies were among the teams that had Castillo in for private workouts. While some teams view the 5-foot-9, 205-pound Castillo as an outfielder, the Yankees like him as a second baseman and are interested in signing him.
Various industry sources speculate he could get from $35 million to $60 million.
The Yankees are getting ahead of MLB when it comes to installing metal detector machines at ballpark entrances. MLB wants all teams to have the technology in place for the start of the 2015 season the Yankees are installing the machines in various entrances Tuesday night.
Derek Jeter went 2-for-4 for the 1,007 multi-hit game of his career. … The Rays are one game back of the third-place Yankees in the AL East, are 8-3 against them and winners of five straight.
Monday’s New York City premiere of “Henry & Me’’ an animated movie featuring voice work by Richard Gere, will be dedicated to the late George Steinbrenner and the announcement was recorded by legendary Yankee Stadium public address announcer Bob Sheppard.