Brett Wallace agrees to minor league deal, and other notes

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have reached agreement with corner infielder Brett Wallace on a minor league deal, and he's currently taking his physical at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Wallace will report to Twin Lakes Park if he passes the physical. Wallace was released by Houston on March 12. Wallace, 27, was 2-for-14 with an RBI and eight strikeouts in eight games with the Astros this spring. The former 13th pick in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft is a career .242/.313/.391 hitter in 311 games over four major league seasons. Last season, Wallace batted .221/.284/.431 with 14 doubles, 13 homers and 36 RBIs in 79 games with the Astros. Newly acquired infielder David Adams also will report to Twin Lakes Park after being claimed off waivers yesterday. Third baseman Manny Machado ran yesterday and will do the same today. Still no word on when he'll play in a minor league game. Catcher Caleb Joseph will be reassigned on Monday and catch Wei-Yin Chen in a Triple-A game. Chen appears to be lined up to start the third game of the regular season on April 3. He could start Saturday's exhibition game at Triple-A Norfolk before facing the Red Sox at Camden Yards. Miguel Gonzalez will start the 1:05 p.m. split-squad game Wednesday in Fort Myers, and Chris Tillman will start the 7:05 p.m. game in Port Charlotte. Rule 5 pick Michael Almanzar fouled a ball off his knee yesterday and isn't available for today's game due to the soreness and some swelling.