More morning notes before today's game

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter wouldn't comment this morning on Pedro Alvarez reaching agreement last night on a one-year deal. The move was referenced, the addition of a left-handed power bat implied, but nothing more.

"You know, as we've been down this road a few times, let the process run its course," he said. "Then, we'll have plenty of time to talk about those things. I'm sworn to double-secret probation and I'm going to honor that protocol and process."

I gave it a shot, asking if Showalter still views Chris Davis as his primary first baseman, no matter what else happens with the roster.

"Yes," he said.

Alvarez is expected at the complex this afternoon. The Orioles are in Clearwater on Wednesday, which makes it more likely that a press conference will be held the following day if the Orioles get back the results of his physical. Otherwise, they're in Tampa on Friday.

Infielder Ryan Flaherty won't make the trip to Clearwater for the game against the Phillies. He's staying back to get bloodwork done as a routine follow-up to his physical.

"I think it's just an excuse for him to stay back with his buddy," Showalter quipped, making the obvious reference to Alvarez.

"I'm talking about (Hyun Soo) Kim and him," Showalter said, taking the joke a step further. "Kim and him."

The Orioles will need to make a 40-man roster move after signing Alvarez, and it's complicated. I've been told they can't simply put Jimmy Paredes or another player on the 60-day disabled list to open a spot at this early date in the spring. Same with designating certain minor leaguers for assignment.

The Orioles could release a player on the 40-man, as they did previously with left-hander Chris Jones, and re-sign him to a minor league deal.

Mark Trumbo was on the field by 8:30 a.m. to perform outfield drills, while the rest of us were "eating Corn Flakes," Showalter said.

I had a breakfast sandwich at the hotel, but I digress ...

Asked whether Trumbo could see a lot of time at first base and the corner outfield spots, Showalter replied, "I don't know what you call a lot of time. He's already spent a lot of time. He was out there with Kirb (Wayne Kirby) today at 8:30 in the morning. He's been doing that, preparing for all the possibilities.

"We knew a possible addition might come and we didn't want to wait until the end. We've been doing it since the day he got here. Whether it's right field, first base or left field, we'll continue to get looks. We haven't done a whole lot in the games in left field, but we've done stuff on the back fields.

"Right field and left field are a lot different. Left field, I think, is the hardest place to play in the outfield and maybe next to shortstop (on the whole field) to be really good at it because the bat comes off so different with right-handed hitters. I'm not saying right field is easy, but most people will tell you that left field is a lot harder than right field."

Showalter indicated that reliever T.J. McFarland could be ready to throw again by the end of the week after X-rays on his left elbow came back clean.

"We're upbeat about that," Showalter said. "He feels good today. Very little ...

"The trainers use edema for swelling. There's very little left there at all, so he should be able to get back in the mix here shortly. We feel good about that."

Showalter said McFarland wants to throw today, but the end of the week is a more realistic goal.

Minor league shortstop Ozzie Martinez has a sore neck, described as whiplash, after colliding with second baseman Garabez Rosa on Sunday while chasing a bouncer up the middle.

"I think they feel good about the concussion not being an issue, even though they followed the protocol," Showalter said. "Our guys are as good as it gets. But I think it's more of a whiplash thing now. He's pretty sore, but he's better today. Hopefully, he can get back into it here before too long."

A third pitcher may join Chris Tillman and Kevin Gausman in Thursday's B game against the Pirates.