TAMPA — In a move the Yankees say was made to provide catching depth in the organization, Chris Stewart was obtained Wednesday from the Giants for right-hander George Kontos.
That led to Francisco Cervelli surprisingly being optioned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. (The temporary name for the Triple-A team is the Empire State Yankees.)
“That gives us a lot more depth being that the [Austin] Romine injury will take a little longer,’’ said general manager Brian Cashman, who refused to meet the Giants’ original request for right-hander David Phelps. “We feel Cervelli is a major league backup and we are where we were before the Romine injury, even though it’s not a good situation for Cervy going to Triple-A.
“As we enter 2012 with [Craig] Tatum the backup at Triple-A, our depth is re-made in a better place than what it was in the last week to 10 days.’’
Cervelli, the Yankees’ backup for the past two seasons and part of the team for three years, said he was confused with the decision.
“I don’t understand the reason; you have to ask Cashman,’’ said Cervelli, who has battled concussion problems and had minor league options remaining. “Maybe the other guy is better than I am right now. I have to show them I am a big-league catcher.’’
Stewart, who is out of options, played one game for the Yankees in 2008 and is known as a defensive catcher with a short bat. In 93 big league games the 30-year-old has a .200 (42-for-210) average.
Cervelli carries a big-league career average of .272 in 181 games.
As for Romine, he was shut down before exhibition games started with lower-back inflammation and was close to getting into games when he suffered a setback with a disk problem and was given an epidural.
It is not known when Romine will be healthy enough to catch.
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Boone Logan’s lower-back problem that surfaced Tuesday night wasn’t serious enough to keep him off the Yankees’ roster that was turned in yesterday at 5 p.m. Nevertheless, the inconsistent lefty reliever isn’t a lock to avoid the disabled list.
“I can’t say he is not going on the DL,’’ Cashman said. “He will make the roster. I know he is already feeling better from the medication.’’
After walking awkwardly into the facility, Logan underwent an MRI exam that didn’t show structural damage.
“He showed up like the Hunchback of Notre Dame,’’ Cashman said.
Logan, who was joined by fellow lefty Clay Rapada on the roster, said there was no secret to the spasms surfacing.
“I didn’t do anything, just walking,’’ said Logan, who expects to be ready for Opening Day tomorrow against the Rays at Tropicana Field.
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Phelps eked past D.J. Mitchell and Adam Warren to cop the long reliever spot in the bullpen.
“They were all so close,’’ manager Joe Girardi said. “It was a very difficult decision.’’
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Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine confirmed he will do a weekly spot on ESPN 1050 Radio, which started Wednesday afternoon. Valentine, who managed the Mets from 1996-2002, will chat with host and Yankees play-by-play man Michael Kay.
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Veteran right-hander Ramon Ortiz , who pitched for the Cubs’ Triple-A team last season, was signed to a minor-league contract.
Ortiz is 86-84 with a 4.93 ERA in 196 major league games. The move was necessitated when Phelps made the major league roster.
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Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano huddled with Michael Pineda after Wednesday’s game and appeared to give the injured right-hander a pep talk.
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Freddy Garcia, scheduled to pitch the fifth game of the season against the Oriolesin Baltimore, went 4²/₃ innings during an 8-3 win over the Mets. Garcia allowed three runs and four hits.
“Spring training is to get ready for the season, Friday [is] when it counts,’’ Garcia said.