TAMPA — Jesus Montero going to Seattle for Michael Pineda removed one obstacle from Austin Romine’s quest to be the second Yankees’ catcher.
But it didn’t clear the path entirely. Francisco Cervelli, the backup the past two years, is healthy after suffering a concussion last season.
“It doesn’t change anything,’’ Romine said of Montero being deleted from the picture. “I have to play well. Who is ahead of me doesn’t matter.’’
Clearly, the 23-year-old Romine, who has played in 13 games (nine in the majors) above Double-A, doesn’t believe regular work at Triple-A would help his development more than being Russell Martin’s backup.
“I would love to be the big league backup,’’ said Romine, whose defense is considered ahead of his bat by scouts. “I think I can learn more up there.’’
Larry Rothschild is selfish. Because he is in charge of the pitchers, Rothschild said he believes the more quality arms the better.
So when the Yankees acquired Pineda, Rothschild grinned.
“You don’t get young kids with arms like that everyday,’’ Rothschild said. “He is a young guy with a big upside and he knows how to pitch.’’
Where Pineda or any other starter falls in behind ace CC Sabathia has yet to be been determined.
“It’s not [been set],’’ Rothschild said. “We have talked and tossed around ideas, but there are a combination of factors. The schedule and matchups are part of it.’’
Boone Logan joined the volunteer workouts yesterday at the minor league complex.
Fifteen years after Charlie Hayes gloved Mark Lemke’s foul pop to seal the Yankees’ 1996 World Series title near the third base seats at Yankee Stadium, Hayes said yesterday he was concerned Lemke might hit the ball on the ground to him.
“If it was a ground ball I might have thrown it away because I broke my [pinkie] leaning on the rail on a foul pop before the final out,’’ Hayes said at the Yankees’ minor league complex where his middle son, Tyree threw for the Yankees’ minor league brass. “I found out it was broke when we were in the pile.’’
Tyree Hayes is a right-handed pitcher who has pitched in the Rays and Reds systems and been plagued by shoulder problems.
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The Connecticut baseball team prepared for the Big East-ACC Challenge that starts today by practicing at the Yankees’ complex. UConn is led by infielder L.J. Mazzilli , the son of former Yankees and Mets outfielder Lee Mazzilli.