TAMPA — The Yankees rightfully are concerned that Mark Teixeira’s right wrist strain will cost the first baseman more than the World Baseball Classic.
Speaking during last night’s 2-0 loss to the Braves at George M. Steinbrenner Field, general manager Brian Cashman didn’t paint an optimistic canvas.
Teixeira felt a pop during a tee drill before Team USA faced the White Sox in an Arizona exhibition game. An MRI exam showed a strain, but Cashman and manager Joe Girardi are leery the ramifications could be worse than the original diagnosis.
“He’s out of the WBC. He’s down for a minimum of two weeks,” said Cashman, who had his right leg in a cast and elevated after breaking his ankle skydiving earlier this week. “He’s going up to New York to see a hand specialist [Dr. Melvin Rosenwasser]. I’m obviously worried about it, because wrists are very unpredictable.
“Even if you can get a positive diagnosis back — which, of course, I’m going to hope for — that still doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods, because wrists are tricky. They’re hard to get a handle on, so I’m concerned about it. This could be something that’s even if it plays out not serious, it could play out longer than anyone could want, regardless.
“I’m not going to sugarcoat it. … Our history of stuff like that, it’s concerning.’’
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With Alex Rodriguez out until at least July and possibly the entire season, Teixeira is being counted on to provide better run production than he did a year ago, when he batted .251 with 24 homers and 84 RBIs in 123 games.
The latest problem is not in the same arm as last year, when Teixeira missed five games in late July and early August with a sore left wrist.
Girardi exhaled when asked what his backup plan at first base would be if Teixeira is out for a period of time.
“That’s something we would have to look at,’’ Girardi said. “We have a number of guys that have played there. Juan Rivera has played there, Dan Johnson has played there. [Kevin Youkilis] has played there. There are a number of things you could possibly do.’’
One name not going near first base is Travis Hafner, the projected designated hitter.
Teixeira’s problem is the latest in a string of injuries to high-profile Yankees players.
Rodriguez underwent extensive left hip surgery in January. Derek Jeter has yet to play in an exhibition game while he recovers from a fractured left ankle suffered in last October’s ALCS. Curtis Granderson had his right forearm fractured in his first exhibition game and is not expected back until early May. Hughes, the No. 4 starter, has been plagued by a bulging disk in the upper back.
Not all Yankees who had physical issues coming into camp are lame. Mariano Rivera (knee surgery) and CC Sabathia (elbow surgery) haven’t missed a step so far in their comebacks.
Teixeira battled illness and injury last year. He had a lung infection early in the season. Then his left wrist became a lingering problem that required rest. Later, he missed 30 games across a 31-game stretch from Aug. 28 to Sept. 30 with a left calf strain.
During the offseason Teixeira said he wanted to be smarter this year and searched for reasons why he was hurt so much last year.
Now, less than a month before Opening Day, he is hurt again.
“You worry because they can be troublesome,’’ Girardi said of wrist problems. “We will have a much better idea late [today].”
george.king@nypost.com