Yankees Catcher Francisco Cervelli 'Disappointed' By Demotion
NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) -- In a surprise move, Yankees backup catcher Francisco Cervelli was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday -- and he wasn't shy about voicing his displeasure.
"What can I say?" Cervelli said after hitting a two-run homer for the Yankees in their spring training finale win over the Mets. "It's not my decision. I'm disappointed with this."
"If they want me to prove that I can catch in the big leagues, I'll go there and I'll prove it," he added. "Just got to keep moving forward, that's it."
Cervelli's demotion came after the Yankees acquired catcher Chris Stewart from San Francisco for pitcher George Kontos. General manager Brian Cashman said Stewart will be the backup, while Cervelli provides organizational depth with minor league catcher Austin Romine sidelined indefinitely because of a back injury.
"I don't understand their reason," said Cervelli. "I think you have to ask Cashman or somebody else. Maybe they think the other guy is better than me right now."
It wasn't easy on manager Joe Girardi, either.
"This was as tough as I've had to do," Girardi said of his meeting with the catcher.
Cervelli has a .272 batting average for the Yankees in 181 games from 2008-11.
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