TAMPA — Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli has a broken left foot, the team said Friday, which could open the door for Jesus Montero to not only grab the back up catching job but to earn the full-time job.

Cervelli’s latest spring training injury (his third in four years) is expected to keep him in a walking boot for a minimum of four weeks. He is in the boot and on crutches.

The fracture is above the toes and was caused by a foul ball off the arch Wednesday.

Joe Girardi said Jorge Posada won’t be put back in the mix. The manager said, “We still plan on having him being the DH.’’

Though Girardi didn’t hand the job as Russell Martin’s backup to Montero, the Yankees’ top position prospect has to be considered the favorite.

Austin Romine, who hasn’t played above Double-A, and Gustavo Molina, who has 23 games of big-league experience, are standing in the way of Montero becoming a big leaguer.

“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.

“He sits in with (pitching coach) Larry (Rothschild), and all our catchers meet with Larry every day and they have a plan and an idea. He has been extremely receptive. It’s something he wants and you see him working like he wants it.’’

Martin will make his first exhibition start behind the plate against the Red Sox at Steinbrenner Field. He had been held out because his surgically repaired left knee was stiff.

As for Cervelli, spring training hasn’t been kind to him. In 2008, he broke a wrist in a home-plate collision. Last year he was hit in the head and suffered a concussion. Now this.

“It always happens early,’’ Girardi said of Cervelli, whose experience backing up Posada the past two seasons was a big plus on his resume to work behind Martin.