Yankees' Mark Teixeira out of WBC with strained right wrist, will be evaluated by team doctors Wednesday

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Yankees certainly didn't need this.

Mark Teixeira suffered a strained right wrist taking swings in the batting cage on Tuesday, costing him his spot on Team USA's World Baseball Classic roster.

The Yankees, already dealing with key injuries, are hoping -- praying might be the better word -- that's all it costs the first baseman.

Teixeira underwent an MRI in Glendale, Ariz., where he was working out with Team USA. Brian Cashman said Teixeira will be "down a minimum of two weeks," but is concerned it could be longer.

"I'm obviously worried about it because wrists are very unpredictable," the general manager said last night.

Cashman said he was told Teixeira said he heard "a pop" in his wrist, but he had not spoken yet to the first baseman.

Teixeira, limited to 123 games last season because of injuries, most significant a left calf strain that kept him out most of September, was headed for New York last night. He'll be evaluated by team physician Christopher Ahmad along with Dr. Melvin Rosenwasser, a hand specialist.

"He was just shaking his head," Team USA manager Joe Torre said of Teixeira after the injury. "It was just a freak thing."

Just after 7:30 p.m., Teixeira posted a message on Twitter: "Very disappointed to miss @WBCBaseball. Best of luck to my teammates, go #USA!"

Manager Joe Girardi said he spoke with longtime Yankees trainer Gene Monahan, who retired after the 2011 season but is Team USA's trainer, which made him feel better. But only to a point. Right now, it's the fear of the unknown.

"Because he's not here, it's a little bit more concerning," Girardi said. "Even though we've talked to Geno, you're still left to wonder a little bit."

Girardi said first-base options include Juan Rivera, Dan Johnson and Kevin Youkilis. "There's a number of things you could possibly do," Girardi said, not sounding especially enthusiastic about any of them.

This spring had already been a busy time for injuries for the Yankees. Phil Hughes, slotted as their No. 4 starter, is questionable for the start of the regular season after suffering two bulging discs in his back Feb. 18.

Curtis Granderson was lost for 10 weeks Feb. 24 when a J.A. Happ pitch broke his right forearm. Youkilis has been dealing with an oblique strain, although he played over the weekend, and as he left the stadium Tuesday night, he said he was scheduled to play Wednesday and Friday.

Lefty Boone Logan is out with elbow inflammation. Derek Jeter, although anticipating a return by Opening Day, hasn't played in a spring game as he recovers from a broken ankle. And David Robertson, scheduled to pitch last night, had "trouble loosening up'' in the bullpen and was shut down, Cashman said.

"That one, right now, is a low-level concern,'' Cashman said.

Even Cashman hasn't been immune. He broke his right leg and dislocated his right ankle Monday parachute jumping with the U.S. Army Golden Knights.

"Most of the time I've been here, we went through it, some injuries here and there," Girardi said. "And our guys have found a way. I really believe they'll do that. Even if we have to do it a different way, we'll find a way."

With David Lennon