FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) – Boston Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra will probably not be ready for opening day because of inflammation in his right Achilles’ tendon.

“I think it’s more unlikely as time goes on,” team doctor Bill Morgan said Saturday. “We wouldn’t rule it out, though.”

Garciaparra was injured three weeks ago when he was hit in the right heel by a ball during batting practice. He has not played since March 17, going hitless in eight at-bats in four games this spring.

Garciaparra took about 20 swings in the batting cage before Saturday’s game against Philadelphia, then took about 20 grounders at shortstop. He said he was not thinking far enough ahead to consider whether he will miss the opener.

“I’m definitely going to be out a few more days. I’m still optimistic, though,” he said. “We’re trying to knock it out now so it doesn’t come back.”

Manager Terry Francona said Garciaparra would not play in the April 4 opener against Baltimore if he were unable to first face live pitching. Asked whether Garciaparra could play an exhibition game in Atlanta on Friday, Morgan said, “He won’t be playing Friday.”

“We’re probably talking about another week before Nomar will be back playing,” Morgan said. “We’re being very careful. If it were September, quite frankly, he would be playing.”

Tests on Garciaparra’s leg have shown no major damage. Morgan and Garciaparra both said there is no similarity to the wrist injury that required surgery on opening day in 2001 and hampered him for the next two seasons.

Garciaparra is entering his ninth major league season, all with Boston, with a .323 career average and two AL batting titles. He is eligible to become a free agent after the season, which is one reason why the Red Sox tried to acquire Alex Rodriguez and trade Garciaparra over the winter.

With Garciaparra out, the Red Sox have been using second baseman Pokey Reese at shortstop and Mark Bellhorn at second.

In other injury news, Morgan said right fielder Trot Nixon will go to a rehabilitation center in Miami to recover from a herniated disk. Nixon will stay there for two weeks, and in the second week he can begin baseball activities such as light throwing and swinging a bat.

Even after he recovers, Nixon will have to avoid sitting for extended periods.

“I think that would be a lifelong recommendation, really, for anybody with a spine problem,” Morgan said.

Also:

-Reliever Ramiro Mendoza reported no problems a day after pitching a scoreless inning in his first appearance of the spring. He pitched 1 2-3 scoreless innings on Saturday in a 7-2 victory over the Phillies.

-Third baseman Bill Mueller, who last played Wednesday night because of an elbow injury, will sit out “a couple more days, just to make sure he’s not fighting it into the season,” Francona said. “He’s good. We just want to make sure he’s great.”

-Righty Byung-Hyun Kim, who was slotted to be the fifth starter, threw from 150 feet on Friday and should be able to throw off a mound before the team leaves Florida. He is expected to start the season on the disabled list, with Bronson Arroyo taking his place in the rotation.

-Righty Jason Shiell (elbow) will start running again in a couple of days.

-Infielder Terry Shumpert (hamstring) is feeling better but not ready to get in a game, Francona said.

AP-ES-03-27-04 1727EST