Mark Trumbo gets an MRI, plus other pregame notes

JUPITER, Fla. - Mark Trumbo was scheduled to be on this two-day trip with the Orioles to the East Coast of Florida. But he stayed back in Sarasota.

Trumbo went 0-for-3 as the designated hitter yesterday in his first game since March 6. He was out with a sore right quad muscle. After playing Wednesday, he felt more soreness and stiffness.

"He went and got an MRI this morning and we haven't gotten the results on that yet. That is why he's not here. That was a little discouraging," manager Buck Showalter said before today's game with St. Louis. "He said it was sore when he was driving home after DHing. I was hoping he would come over here and begin to work his way on to the field."

Trumbo is batting .130 (3-for-23) in eight games.

Showalter was asked about Anthony Santander getting some recent starts in left field. Is that a spot where he could play some during the season?

"We are trying to familiarize ourselves with Santander in left and right," he said. "We know Colby (Rasmus) can play all three. We get down to the last week, we'll move some guys around. Lot depends on Chris Davis' status. Trey (Mancini) had plenty of reps in left field. As soon as we get Chris back, he'll go back out there (at first base) and Anthony will continue to move around.

"Santander, it might be one of those years where he finds his way into a role. That is usually how it starts. Lot of unknown, whether the things he is doing now will continue up there. But what else do you want him to do? Be bad? I know he is moving better than I thought he would and he's really engaged in the other side of the ball (on defense). You can tell, he's on a mission."

Showalter, as you would expect, is not ready to tip his hand on the battle for the backup catcher's job between Chance Sisco, Austin Wynns and Andrew Susac.

"You know, we are not that familiar with Susac," he said. "Each guy brings a little different skill set initially. They are all trying to work on the part that might have some question to it. We are from the finished product on those two guys. Can't really speak of Susac too well. Where these guys end up offensively or defensively is yet to be determined. I've got an open mind on it right about now. I'm not going to get into handicapping it."

Showalter concedes that part of the decision involving Sisco is whether he is better served getting everyday reps on the farm as opposed to not playing every day in the majors.

"That's part of the equation, it is," Showalter said. "I'm sure of what he would say. He's followed a really good path, where he's done well at each (minor league) level. Like Trey's path. Really proud of our player development with the path these guys have been allowed to master. Not master, but do well at a level before they are moved. You see the benefit of it with Trey and I think we'll see it with Chance and for that matter with Austin."

Showalter would not bite with much of a comment when asked about Aaron Judge's comments about the Orioles' Manny Machado in Sarasota yesterday.

Judge told New York reporters: "Adding him to our lineup that we've already got would be something special. I told him he'd look good in pinstripes. He (Machado) just kind of laughed it off and didn't really say much."

Reached by New York media, Major League Baseball issued a statement on Judge's comments, which border on tampering. Actually, he probably crossed the border.

"We have been in contact with the Yankees," the statement said. "They communicated to us that Mr. Judge's off the cuff comments were not appropriate and not authorized by the club. They will speak to him to make sure that this does not happen again."

Said Showalter: "I read something about they frowned on it or something. I was sent something and kind of glanced through it. So, yes, I'm aware somewhat of it.

"Really, I'm glad they didn't catch Manny recruiting Judge," Showalter joked.