Perez out three months

Rays outfielder Fernando Perez will miss at least three months after dislocating his left wrist Tuesday while diving for a sinking line drive in the first inning against the Blue Jays.

“It wasn’t anything super reckless," Perez said. "It’s a play I usually make. Around here we reinforce this idea that I already have that it’s no different, spring training isn’t any different. Balls got to get caught. We’re practicing playing at a high level. Obviously, if I would have come in and let that one drop like I was a 15-year veteran we wouldn’t be in this position. But it’s not the way I’m accustomed to playing. Maybe I will be when I’m a 15-year veteran.”

Perez's injury has opened a spot for another outfielder, perhaps Justin Ruggiano or Jon Weber, because Perez would have been in center field on Opening Day is B.J. Upton is still on the disabled list.

"If B.J. were not to be ready, it makes it a lot easier to know who’s going to play center field when the season opens," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "But now we’ve got Gabe (Kapler) out there. We have to get (Ben)Zobrist out there. It gives some other people opportunity out there just in case something else were to happen. That’s the impact. If B.J. were not to be ready (Perez) probably would have played out there in the beginning of the season.”