Mets' Asbrubal Cabrera headed to New York for knee exam

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) New York Mets shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera has a strained patella tendon in his left knee and could miss the start of the season.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said Cabrera will be out for two weeks, then resume baseball activity as he is able. The Mets open the season April 3 at Kansas City in a rematch of the 2015 World Series.

''He may not be ready for opening day, and that's one of the reasons we have the depth on our roster that we have now,'' Alderson said Friday. ''If he's ready in three or four weeks, it's essentially the first week of the season and we'll be in pretty good shape.''

Cabrera traveled to New York on Friday to receive a platelet rich plasma injection.

Cabrera was injured in the first inning of Thursday's spring training game while he was running from first to second base and decided late not to slide. He was taken out of the game a few pitches later.

He had an MRI on Thursday in Port St. Lucie.

Cabrera signed an $18.5 million, two-year deal with the Mets during the offseason as a free agent. Wilmer Flores and Ruben Tejada provide depth at shortstop, but Alderson would not say Cabrera's injury solidifies Tejada's spot on the team.

''We continually analyze where we are and how our roster looks in relation to our injury situation and other considerations, so that's an ongoing process,'' Alderson said.