Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — The first caution flag of Braves spring training went up Friday.

New shortstop Edgar Renteria was held from Friday's workout because of a sore back, and manager Bobby Cox said he also might rest him today.

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The Braves hate to hear "sore back" and Renteria in the same sentence, since he's had periodic back problems during his career with Florida, St. Louis and Boston.

Cox downplayed the latest pain and said he held Renteria out of the workout only for precautionary reasons.

He said Renteria, 30, hurt his back when he jumped out of the way of a ball Thursday in the batting cage. Cox admonished himself for letting Renteria come out for extra infield practice at the end of Thursday's workout.

Some in Boston last year believed Renteria's back contributed to his career-worst 30-error performance in his only season with the Red Sox, who traded him with three years left on his four-year, $40 million contract.

The Braves owe Renteria $18 million of the $29 million left on his contract, with Boston picking up the rest of the tab. The Braves traded top third-base prospect Andy Marte to the Red Sox, who later traded him again to Cleveland.

Renteria hired a personal trainer this winter and worked out at his homes in Colombia and Miami Beach. He reported to spring training in good shape.

The Braves expect big things from the four-time former All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner. They will be cautious this early in spring training, because they can't afford to have him hindered throughout the season.

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Francoeur gets hefty raise

After his big rookie season, Jeff Francoeur got a bigger raise than other young players when he agreed to a $384,500 contract for 2006. The major league minimum salary is $327,000, up from $316,000 in 2005.

One of 18 rookies used by the Braves in 2005, Francoeur hit .300 with 14 homers and 45 RBIs in 70 games and finished third for NL Rookie of the Year

Like most teams, the Braves have a strict pay scale with only modest raises until players have the three years' service necessary for arbitration. Francoeur has 88 days of major league service, or about a half-year.

Another of last year's rookies, left-handed reliever Macay McBride, has 64 days' service and agreed to a $333,000 salary for 2006.

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Liking Obermueller

When he came over in a December trade for Dan Kolb, Braves fans' expectations for Wes Obermueller couldn't have been high. They had to assume no team would trade anyone of significant value for Kolb after his 2005 debacle.

That said, Obermueller looks as if he could help the Braves.

"He threw the ball super," manager Bobby Cox said after watching Obermueller throw batting practice Friday to a group that included Jeff Francoeur and the Joneses, Andruw and Chipper. "He's got good stuff — 92-94 [mph fastball], great slider, and he's around the plate. Our scouts liked him, and you could see why."

The Braves got Obermueller, 29, from Milwaukee for Kolb, who they traded back to the Brewers after an abysmal 2005 season in which he blew seven of 18 saves and posted a 5.93 ERA in 65 games.

Obermueller didn't do much better with the Brewers — 1-4 with a 5.26 ERA in 23 games (eight starts) — and hasn't set the majors on fire in four big league seasons (9-19, 5.71 ERA, 131 strikeouts, 104 walks, 256 1/3 innings).

But he has a good arm and versatility, and the Braves think he might be able to help out their bullpen. On Friday, at least, he looked like a guy capable of a lot more than he did in the past.