SEATTLE — Whenever Francisco Cervelli rejoins the Yankees from the disabled list, the club won’t carry three catchers.
That means, barring an injury to Brian McCann or Cervelli, John Ryan Murphy will be sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre where he will receive regular playing time.
After the Yankees’ 6-3 win in Seattle on Thursday, Joe Girardi said while there is a possibility Cervelli could be activated Friday against the A’s in Oakland, he more than likely will be out until Tuesday, when the Yankees host the Blue Jays.
Though Girardi dangled the possibility of the Yankees carrying three catchers earlier in the week, general manager Brian Cashman said that’s not likely.
“That’s not my personal intention,’’ the GM said. “That’s not in John Ryan Murphy’s best interest.’’
“Murph is a guy we talked about playing every day at Triple-A and he has made great strides here, too,’’ Girardi said. “Cervy is a guy we believe can help us, too.’’
Out since suffering a Grade 2 right hamstring strain on April 13 running to first base, Cervelli played first base for Double-A Trenton Wednesday night but that wasn’t because the Yankees are thinking Cervelli would be a third catcher/backup first baseman in the big leagues.
“Joe wanted to see it, it gives him flexibility,’’ Cashman said of Cervelli, who has started two games at first this year.
Cervelli was behind the plate for Trenton on Thursday.
Since Cervelli is out of options, if he were to be activated and sent to the minors he could decline the move and become a free agent. Considering how shallow the catching pool is throughout the majors, Cervelli would surely draw interest from other clubs.
In 16 games this season Cervelli is hitting .188. After Thursday’s 1-for-4 performance, Cervelli was 3-for-23 (.130) in seven minor league rehab games.
Murphy, who passed Gary Sanchez as the organization’s top catching prospect, has played in 22 games and is batting .310 with a homer and eight RBIs after his 2-for-4 performance Thursday.
And while he has certainly held his own, Murphy would benefit from regular playing time at SWB.
Murphy started Thursday night because Girardi plans to use McCann in all three games in Oakland, including Sunday’s day game after a night game Saturday.
Jacob Lindgren, the Yankees first pick (55th overall) in last week’s draft underwent a physical in Tampa on Thursday and is expected to sign Friday. The slot for the second-round left-handed reliever from Mississippi State is $1.1 million.
Some believe Lindgren could be the first from this year’s draft to reach the big leagues.
The Yankees announced the signing of nine players taken in the draft. Ty McFarland, a second baseman from James Madison University who was taken in the 10th round, was the highest pick to sign.
Indications are right-hander Mariano Rivera III, the son of baseball’s all-time saves leader, will return to Iona College. Rivera was taken in the 29th round (872nd overall) by the Yankees.
According to Girardi, CC Sabathia threw on flat ground at Yankee Stadium Thursday.
“Hopefully next week he can get on a mound,’’ Girardi said of the lefty who is on the DL with an inflamed right knee.
Michael Pineda remains shut down from throwing due to a recurrence of a right shoulder muscle injury.
Jesus Montero, once considered the best hitting prospect in baseball and the key ingredient for the Mariners in the Pineda deal, was promoted from Triple-A to the big leagues Thursday but wasn’t in the lineup.
Carlos Beltran played catch for the second straight day and will rest the right elbow Friday before resuming the activity Saturday.
Gary Sanchez wasn’t in Trenton’s lineup Thursday night for the second straight game. Sanchez was late for a bullpen session Thursday and has demonstrated attitude problems.
The 21-year-old, who was given $3 million to sign in 2009, is batting .251 with seven homers and 36 RBIs.
Tino Martinez will be honored at Yankee Stadium on June 21 when the World Series-winning first baseman will have a plaque in Monument Park dedicated to him.
The next day, Old-Timer’s Day, Hall of Fame reliever Goose Gossage gets his plaque displayed beyond the center-field fence.