Nelson Cruz Out For Three Weeks

And there it is. According to ESPNDallas.com's Richard Durrett, an MRI performed on Nelson Cruz's strained left hamstring this afternoon revealed a Grade 1 strain that will require him to be out for approximately three weeks. Team physician Dr. Keith Meister reportedly administered an injection of platelet-rich plasma in an effort to facilitate the healing process -- a method that was employed two years ago when Michael Young strained his own left hamstring late in the season, but failed to yield the desired effect of bringing Young back to the lineup in time to bolster the Rangers' playoff chances.

I would hope that things work out more smoothly this time.

Lance Berkman is still being bandied about as a rumored trade possibility, but, in the meantime, the Rangers seem likely to summon one or both of Leonys Martin and Mark Hamburger to the majors, as was reported by The Ticket's Norm Hitzges this morning; Martin could be swapped onto the active roster by sticking Nelson Cruz on the 15-day disabled list, but Hamburger would be a bit trickier, as he would first require a 40-man roster spot -- to achieve that, Wilmer Font could be placed on the 60-day disabled list, or the Rangers could cut bait with one of Ryan Tucker or Tim Wood -- and then require an active-roster spot of his own. 

[Update: Jeff Wilson reports that Cruz will be assigned to the 15-day disabled list tomorrow, with Martin assuming his place on the active roster. This is a significant blow to Adrian Beltre's hopes of being activated from the disabled list in time for tomorrow or Wednesday's game, as the only obvious way to accomplish that would be to option Martin back to Triple-A Round Rock; doing so would force the Rangers to be without Martin for 10 additional days, which wouldn't seem to make very much sense. The likelihood, then, is that the Rangers hold off on activating Beltre until Thursday, when the active roster expands to 40 players and negates that particular roster crunch.]