Cervelli receives endorsements from Yankees
BRADENTON, Fla. — To understand how much Francisco Cervelli can help the Pirates, it is instructive to talk to people with his former team.
“We’re going to miss him,” New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi said recently before a spring training workout.
Cervelli, a 29-year-old catcher, signed with the Yankees as an amateur free agent from Venezuela in 2003. He spent seven seasons in the major leagues with them, beginning in 2008, until being traded to the Pirates in November for left-hander reliever Justin Wilson.
While Cervelli was the backup to Jorge Posada, Russell Martin and Brian McCann during his tenure with the Yankees, Girardi referred to him as “key player.”
“He did some really good things for us over the years,” said Girardi, who had a 15-year career in the majors as a catcher. “He’s a player that was loved in the clubhouse. We loved his energy and the way he played the game, the way he went about his business.
“I’m happy that he gets an opportunity to play every day. I’ve said all along, I believe he’s an everyday catcher, and he’ll help someone. I think he’ll help the Pirates.”
The Pirates are counting on it. Cervelli is likely to catch 100-110 games with backup Chris Stewart handling the rest of the workload behind the plate.
Martin, who spent the last two seasons as the Pirates’ primary catcher before leaving for the Toronto Blue Jays as a free agent in November, also gives Cervelli his endorsement.
In fact, Martin said the acquisition of Cervelli helped put his mind at ease after he rejected the Pirates’ four-year, $56-million offer and signed with the Blue Jays for five years and $82 million.
“I was actually relieved,” Martin said. “There’s a guy that can actually do some things defensively. I definitely feel like he can get the job done. He has endless energy and he plays the game as hard as anybody.”
Cervelli is a serviceable major league hitter with a .278 lifetime batting average in 250 games and a .729 OPS. He hit .301 with two home runs and an .802 OPS last season.
However, Cervelli’s biggest problem has been staying off the disabled list as he has broken his right wrist, left foot and right hand over the course of his career.
Injuries even led to him being suspended for 50 games in 2013 for violating Major League Baseball’s drug policy. The ban came after an MLB investigation found that Cervelli had visited the office of Anthony Bosch, who was convicted for selling illegal performance-enhancing drugs in the Biogenesis scandal in Miami, in 2011.
Cervelli admits he hoped Bosch could help speed his recovery from the broken foot and says he regrets his mistake.
Cervelli also feels he is ready to handle being a No. 1 catcher despite never playing more than 93 games in a season.
“Perhaps in the past, I wasn’t prepared to play a lot of games,” Cervelli said. “I think I’ve learned some things, though. I understand the opportunity I have here and I feel I’m prepared for it.”
Cervelli is spending as much time preparing mentally as he is physically this spring as he tries to learn a new pitching staff. He has spent many evenings this spring taking pitchers out to dinner individually in an effort to learn their pitching philosophies and personalities.
“It’s fun,” Cervelli said. “I love that kind of thing. The most important thing you can do as a catcher is build trust with your pitchers. I want them to feel comfortable with me.”
And, the Pirates are comfortable giving Cervelli a chance to finally fulfill his dream of being a starting catcher.
“He is a hungry learner,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “He’s asking questions, having conversations, watching video tape. He takes the job seriously but he is also a fun guy to have around. We’re glad to have him.”