Juan Carlos

Linares

No word on the extent of the injury, but Linares hurt himself after chasing a ball in the left-center field gap. The 28-year-old Cuban defector is expected to begin the season in the minors.

Linares, a 28-year-old Cuban defector, is in camp as a non-roster player after hitting .316/.364/.510 with 16 homers in 412 at-bats between Double- and Triple-A last year. He’s a pretty good defensive outfielder, so if he can keep his average up again this year, perhaps he’ll earn a look at some point. A future as a bench player is a possibility.

The Red Sox once had high hopes for the Cuban defector, but the 29-year-old stalled in the minors, hitting just .266/.344/.425 with eight homers between Double- and Triple-A last year. He should be able to find a job elsewhere.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox aren’t inclined to trade him, as they see him as depth at the Triple-A level. Linares, 26, signed for $750,000 after defecting from Cuba in 2009. Though he didn’t do much in his time between rookie ball and Double-A last season, many were impressed by his play during the Arizona Fall League.

Linares was batting .233/.281/.500 with three home runs for Triple-A Pawtucket when he went down with the injury. The Cuban defector doesn’t project as much more than a borderline starter.