Cabrera beginning rehab assignment Tuesday

MIAMI -- Shortstop Everth Cabrera begins a rehab assignment with Class A Fort Wayne on Tuesday. He will play games on Tuesday and Wednesday before he is re-evaluated.

The Padres could activate Cabrera as early as Thursday.

"There's a chance that he might get on a plane and meet us Thursday in Boston," San Diego manager Bud Black said. "Whether we activate him or not on that day is still up in the air."

If Cabrera is activated Thursday, Black said that he likely won't start the game that day against the Red Sox, because with the traveling, he might not make first pitch, which is at 10:35 a.m. PT.

"We could activate him if we wanted," Black said. "We'll see. That's granted if he comes out of Tuesday and Wednesday fine."