Molina could start year as backup catcher

TAMPA, Fla. -- A player rarely mentioned during the first five weeks of camp might end up being the Yankees' Opening Day backup catcher.

With Jesus Montero failing to distinguish himself, the job could go to Gustavo Molina, 29, a non-roster invitee with 13 starts in the majors since 2007. "Molina was brought in to be an insurance policy for us," Brian Cashman said. "That's why he's here; he's got major-league time."

In the days after backup catcher Francisco Cervelli suffered a broken left foot in the first week of March (he said Friday that his boot is scheduled to come off Tuesday), the attention turned to Montero, 21, the organization's top prospect. The backup job essentially was his to lose, but his performance has declined, and Joe Girardi thinks he might be pressing.

After Cervelli went down, Girardi and Cashman talked about the benefit a prospect such as Montero or Romine would get playing once or twice a week in the majors. The tune was different Friday.

"With Cervy going down and you have two young kids that you really consider as everyday players as prospects, you want them to play every day," Girardi said. "We've given the young kids a lot of looks and we're giving Molina a look now too, so we feel like we're making the right decision, what's right for everyone -- the team and these young guy's careers . . . That's something we need to decide in the next couple of days: Do we go with one of our younger kids or do we go with Molina?"

Montero, hitting .222 entering Friday's game, said he will accept whatever decision the Yankees reach. "I've been trying to win a place," he said. "I'm trying my best to be on the team. Whatever they decide."

Hint, hint

He was speaking hypothetically, but Girardi sounded comfortable with having Bartolo Colon in the bullpen instead of Freddy Garcia, a decision not yet announced but certainly speculated about. "I think Bartolo's velocity might play up if you put him in the bullpen," Girardi said. "I'm not sure about Freddy's. Freddy at this point is probably more of a finesse guy where Bartolo, he might throw seven, eight out of 10 fastballs and locate them."

Extra bases

Nick Swisher, who fouled a ball off the instep of his left foot Wednesday, was the designated hitter Friday. He could have played Thursday had there been a game, Girardi said . . . Derek Jeter good-naturedly shook his head with a smile and declined to comment on Buck Showalter's remarks about having yelled at Jeter last September for jumping away from inside pitches . . . Eric Chavez and Brett Gardner homered in the Yankees' 6-4 victory over the Astros.