Nomar sporting removable cast for sore heel

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Boston Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra wore a removable cast on the lower part of his right leg Friday after being hobbled by a sore heel for much of spring training.

He underwent an MRI on Thursday, and it was not known how long he would be out.

Garciaparra has played once in the last six exhibition games after hurting his right Achilles' tendon during batting practice. He is 0-for-8 in spring training games.

He had missed four consecutive games before going 0-for-2 with a walk in a 3-1 victory over Cleveland on Wednesday. He did not make the trip to Winter Haven on Thursday when the Red Sox faced the Indians again.

Garciaparra, who is eligible for free agency after this season, nearly was traded in the offseason when Boston tried to get shortstop Alex Rodriguez. But Rodriguez eventually was traded from Texas to the New York Yankees and Garciaparra remained with the Red Sox.

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