Adrian Beltre will sit out at least the next two weeks with a strained calf.
"I think we're handling this in a very responsible and conservative matter considering where we are in the spring and the nature of who the player is," assistant general manager Thad Levine told The Associated Press.
The Texas Rangers and Beltre said they were simply being cautious by shutting the high-priced third baseman down, but there is speculation that his calf strain may be more serious than the team is indicating.
"I have a bad feeling about Beltre," tweeted former player and current blogger Morgan Ensberg. "He said he strained in on a treadmill this offseason. Doesn't sound right to me. I hope I'm wrong."
The Rangers, obviously, are hoping the injury is indeed minor, as they signed Beltre to a five-year, $80 million deal this winter. History is on their side, as Beltre has appeared in 143 or more games in eight of the last nine seasons.
