Major League Baseball

Cervelli out with broken foot

Published Mar. 4, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli will miss at least a month after breaking his left foot, the team announced Friday.

Cervelli was hurt Wednesday when a foul ball struck his left foot, saddling him with his third spring training injury in the past four years.

The Yankees signed former Dodger Russell Martin to a one-year deal this offseason to be the everyday catcher, and plan to move veteran backstop Jorge Posada to designated hitter.

Manager Joe Girardi said the plan for Posada has not changed after Cervelli's injury.

The injury could open the door for the Yankees' top prospect, Jesus Montero, to be named as the backup catcher out of spring training.

"I have been really pleased with what he has done,'' Girardi said of Montero, who hit .289 with 21 homers and 75 RBIs for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A) last season. "I have watched him frame the ball, catch the ball, and I am very happy with that.

If the Yankees opt to start Montero in the minors so he can play every day, they could also go with youngster Austin Romine or Gustav Molina as the backup catcher.

Martin was set to make his first spring training start behind the plate Friday against the Red Sox. He sat out the past few games with stiffness in his surgically-repaired left knee.

Cervelli, 24, backed up Posada the past two seasons, hitting .278 in that span.